Cozumel, Quintana Roo — The Fundación de Parques y Museos de Cozumel (FPMC) has inaugurated the collective exhibition "The Legend of Oaxaca: Matlazihua" at the Museo de la Isla. The showcase, featuring 30 pieces, highlights the cultural exchange between Quintana Roo and other regions of Mexico by blending the richness of oral tradition with the ancestral symbolism of Oaxaca’s Central Valleys and the contemporary talent of 10 artists from the state.
A Fusion of Myth and Modern Art
The opening ceremony was attended by FPMC advisors Ana López and Alejandro Queb Franco, museographer Satoko Kitamura, cultural manager Arcelia Rosalba Juárez Cruz, and architect Joy Juárez Cruz, who also served as the exhibition’s curator. The display merges mysticism, art, and tradition, offering visitors a vivid exploration of Oaxacan folklore.
In her remarks, Joy Juárez emphasized that the exhibition aims to create a cultural bridge between Oaxaca and Cozumel through art and enduring legends. One such legend is Matlazihua, a mysterious female figure described as a beautiful woman dressed in white who appears on solitary roads to seduce men and lead them to ruin.
Diverse Interpretations by Oaxacan Artists
The legend has been reinterpreted through paintings, sculptures, and alebrijes (colorful folk art sculptures) by artists Inés Lara, Jesús Cuevas, Miguel Alvarado, Manuel Miguel, Edison Blas, Alexei Rivera, Elece, Jorge López, Diego Navarrete, and Cándido Santiago. Their works fill the museum’s gallery with color, energy, and symbolism.
During the ceremony, advisor Ana López presented recognition awards on behalf of FPMC Director General Juanita Alonso Marrufo to the cultural promoters who made the exhibition possible. López underscored the importance of fostering artistic spaces as a means of connecting communities, regions, and indigenous peoples.
A Reflection of Indigenous Worldview
Alejandro Queb, who officially inaugurated the exhibition, stated, "Each piece reflects the mysticism and indigenous worldview. We want visitors to connect with these stories and take away more than just an image—an emotion, a reflection, a lesson."
A guided tour allowed attendees to appreciate the symbolic depth of each artwork, reinforcing FPMC’s commitment to cultural promotion in alignment with the New Agreement for the Well-being and Development of Quintana Roo, championed by Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa.
The exhibition will remain open to the public, offering a unique opportunity to engage with Oaxaca’s cultural heritage through contemporary artistic expression.
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