"Don't call me a dirty little Mexican"
Medium: New Zealand jade
Dimensions: 210 mm x 19.40 mm x 8 mm.
Year: 2002
Sold to a collector in the USA.
This is a wall hanging sculpture that is based on an Aztec mask with three symbols etched across the forehead. The symbols represent negative effects of Spanish colonialism upon the indigenous Mesoamericans. From left to right the symbols of European origin represent; a broken cross showing the effects of bringing a foreign religion; a disordered mind, the result of loosing the familiarity and order of a culture; and the symbol for wine and alcoholic spirits.
The title of this carving was taken from a conversation with a Mexican who was in our tour group in
Italy. We were discussing his Mexican heritage and the Mexican culture and he said to me, "What ever you do,
don't call me a dirty little Mexican".
This reminded me of similar comments made about other races and it seemed
to be a good line for a protest work of art.