Totonac Civilization 1950

This mural, painted by Diego Rivera in the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City, is a history lesson, a celebration, and a whole world come to life! Just look at the way he layers figures and architectural forms to conjure the Totonac civilization. I can almost feel him, brush in hand, building up this narrative, this complex, buzzing space. What was he thinking as he decided where each figure should stand, each colour should burst forth? I love the use of browns, ochres and blues, the way they create depth and atmosphere. And those gestures – the sweep of an arm, the turn of a head – they speak volumes. Rivera had a deep understanding of how the body communicates, something I am always trying to achieve in my own practice. It's amazing how artists, across time, build on each other’s visions, remixing and reinterpreting the past. Rivera is in conversation with the Totonac people, honoring their past and ensuring they will never be forgotten. It’s a reminder that painting can be a powerful act of remembering.