Santa Comida Exhibition in Cozumel Portrays Solidarity During Pandemic

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — The Museo de la Isla will host “Santa Comida,” an oil painting exhibition by Canadian artist Martine Dufour, opening May 8 at 8 p.m. The show features 12 portraits documenting food insecurity and community solidarity during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Riviera Maya.

Organized by the Fundación de Parques y Museos de Cozumel (FPMC), the exhibition goes beyond aesthetics to serve as a social testimony of one of the most challenging periods in recent history. Each portrait captures not only the faces of its subjects but also the emotional and social context in which citizen support networks — such as community kitchens and food drives — emerged.

“These are stories that should not be forgotten, because they reflect the ability of communities to organize and move forward in times of crisis,” said Isela Carrillo Cupul, director of the museum.

Proceeds from the exhibition will support community kitchens and food banks still operating in the region. Juanita Alonso Marrufo, general director of FPMC, emphasized that the exhibition aligns with the institution’s vision of using art as a tool for social transformation and awareness.

The exhibition is part of the Nuevo Acuerdo por el Bienestar y Desarrollo de Quintana Roo, a state initiative promoted by Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa that aims to make culture accessible as a right and a means to strengthen the social fabric.

The museum invites local residents and national and international tourists to attend the opening on Friday, May 8, at 8 p.m.