“DIÁLOGOS DEL MAGUEY” is the first solo show of Mayan kaqchiquel artist Angélica Serech (b. 1982. San Juan Comalapa, Chimaltenango, Guatemala).

“The exhibition ‘Diálogos del Maguey’ presents a set of recent works, some never presented before, by the artist Angélica Serech at La Galería Rebelde. It is a journey to the heart of Guatemalan heritage, where tradition meets innovation in the field of textile art. Inspired by the vibrant and elaborate Mayan attire of San Juan Comalapa, Serech embarks on an aesthetic and symbolic exploration that extends the limits of textile creation beyond conventional methodologies. Her work is a testament to the cultural narratives embedded in these traditional practices, transformed and reimagined through her personal idiosyncrasy and her fearless daily practice.

Serech's creative process is deeply rooted in experimentation, allowing her to incorporate a range of unconventional materials into her textiles. Corn skin and tree branches, elements deeply intertwined with the daily life and natural environment of her community, are woven into her pieces, creating textures that are as novel as they are natural. This innovative fusion not only highlights the versatility of textile art but also serves as a metaphor for a bridge between the natural world and human ingenuity.

The essence of Serech's work lies in her ability to encapsulate the rhythm of daily life in San Juan Comalapa. Each fabric is a canvas on which the stories of the people within it are told, using knots, variations in thread thickness and a color palette that come together in intricate lattices. These lattices, sometimes, follow an underlying logic, while in others, they seem to decompose in a limit exercise that could apparently put the material integrity of the piece at risk, guided by intuition and mediated by the artist's deep mastery of the materials. and techniques. This technical and conceptual mastery allows Serech to formalize pieces that seem to extravasate their own physical dimension in compositions that definitively break traditional visions about the place of textile arts, offering a vision of the dual nature of artistic creation, both reflective and spontaneous.

The continued practice of Angélica Serech's work is not only a form of communication with the outside world, but also a means for self-discovery and internal reflection. By immersing herself in the creation of textiles that blend tradition with innovation, Serech embarks on an introspective journey that allows her to discover new facets of her own identity and her connection to Guatemalan cultural heritage. This creative process becomes a constant dialogue between the artist and her work, where each piece reflects her personal explorations, ecological circumspections, and her connection to her community.

The artist, through the manipulation of materials and techniques, not only discovers new aesthetic possibilities, but also faces challenges and personal discoveries. Artistic practice, in this sense, becomes a powerful tool for self-knowledge and self-expression, allowing Serech to navigate and shape her own inner universe while she communicates with the outside. This journey of discovery through textile art not only enriches her own experience, but also offers others the opportunity to commune with the deep meanings and connections that are woven into the fabric of our universal cultural collectivity.

Serech's textiles are narratives woven from the threads of memory, identity and belonging. They are presented as vibrant accumulations of cultural heritage, inviting the viewer to immerse themselves in the complex interplay of community knowledge and personal questioning that defines her work. Through her pieces, Serech not only pays homage to the traditional textiles of her homeland but also redefines them, offering a fresh perspective on the role of textiles in contemporary art.

This exhibition at La Galería Rebelde is a celebration of the enduring spirit of textiles and their continued evolution in the hands of artists like Angélica Serech in a powerful gesture of cultural self-determination. It is an invitation to explore the depth of cultural identity through the lens of textile art, where each piece serves as a gateway to understanding the intricate relationship between an artist and her heritage as a way of thinking from the local to the global”.

Bruno Leitão
Curator

Photography: José Oquendo