As it turns out, the Roma neighborhood is full of interesting murals. Some are pretty, some are scary, and some are outright cryptic. The one I want to present today certainly falls into this latter group. If you want to visit it, it can be found on Querétaro street, between Jalapa and Orizaba.
At first it was the painting of the old lady that caught my eye. Was she beckoning me with her finger, or was she just simply rubbing her chin in deep thought? In any case, I had to admire the beautiful pattern of ethnic embroidery painted on the wall behind her.
But then I saw the parable next to her, which I've been puzzling about ever since. Framed by two kids, one dressed in the traditional garb of a Mexican peasant: a white shirt and a red scarf, the other one wearing something even more ancient: a prehispanic Jaguar's mask. On the wall between them, a brief story was written in fancy letters. Reading I could make some sense of it, though there remained a number of questions unanswered. So for your sake, I translated it as accurately as I understood:
A child stopped
-Why is the earth shaking?
-The calm makes it vibrate.
-Does peace scare it?
-You should stop completely and you will feel it.
Shortly after the child started to wiggle.
-What happened to you?
-I think I stopped the tremor.
Okay, I'm not even going to ask questions, let alone trying to explain it. Since it's a parable, the various elements (the earth, the child, the movement, etc.) are supposed to symbolize something. As for what, I'll leave it up to each one to make their own interpretations.
The VA POR LA ROMA sign shows that this picture is one of a series of murals on the walls of this neighborhood. This one was painted in 2017 by the artist Saner, whose work is truly worth checking out. In the short clip on his webpage you can see how he combines prehispanic elements with modern themes. Discovering him by making this post, is something I consider way more important than deciphering this cryptic message. Though I'd be curious what interpretations others may come up with. If you think it's too obvious not to see, please drop me a comment!
If you liked this, check out my developing series on Mexican murals:
- Horrific Animals in the Roma
- Beautiful Animals in the Roma
- A Beast With a Mesmerizing Look
- New Pictures on Old Walls
- When Big Red Lips Start Growing On You
- Funky Graphics in the Condesa
- A Less Appreciated Wall Painting
- The Flower of Life in a Face
- Honoring the Departed
- The Kiss of Death
- Worsening Situation for Women
- All Your Favorite Mexican Motives
- Aztec Legends in Metro Tacubaya
- Tlaloc in His Element
- Illuminated Illumination
- The Rapidly Changing Wall of La Casa Picnic
- Axolotls Wherever You Look!
- Axolotl in the Parque Lira
- A Healing Mermaid Under Mexican Skies
- Skate On Forever
- Four Sides of a Water Box
- The Children of the Feathered Serpent
- Painted Garage Doors
- New Stairs-Art in my Neighborhood
- Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda Central
- La Familia Burrón in the Center
- Playing With Bugs on the Rooftop
- A Journey Through Rock and Roll
- Elite Warriors in the Parque México
- Laboratory Work on the Cocoa
- High Above the City
- Feminist Mural on a Blue-Collar Business
- Not Much New in Almost a Year
- Commercial Murals for Small Businesses
- A Mural for a Movie
- Get to Know Your Local Cacti
- New Images Covering Old Ones
- A Warrior Princess in Mazunte
- A Cartoon with a Public Health Message
- Murals Under Periferico
- Murals of the Barrio in Aguascalientes
- Respected and Less Respected Paintings
- Under Metro Line 4
- ChaliaKiller's – Murals, Chilaquiles, and Lots More
- A Familiar Face
- Political Expression: the Painting is on the Wall
- Different Types of Wall Paintings
- The Beauty of Death and the Struggle of Life
- Winston Churchill and the Bike Movement
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#ecotrain | What is EcoTrain | Discord Community
#tribesteemup |The 8 Pillars of @TribeSteemUp
#team-mexico | Discord Community
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