After “The Art of Dying” comes “To Hell with the Devil” – just in time for the Mexican Day of the Dead.
The Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) was recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on November 7, 2003, and has been part of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2008. This recognition opens the opportunity to present an exhibition that brings together the syncretism of different religions, ethnicities, and ways of thinking.
This exhibition plays with the idea of the devil. In religious symbolism and iconography, El Diablo is the embodiment of all human evil—the eternal adversary of God. In polytheistic religions, he appears as a malevolent deity, the cause of misfortune and disaster for humanity.
In Mexico, the devil combines various traditions—some originating from the European Middle Ages, others from African and Asian cosmologies. The devil arrived in Mesoamerica with the Spanish and the Catholic religion, where he merged with the beliefs and gods of the underworld of the indigenous population.
For the Catholic Church, the devil is an agent of temptation and worldly pleasures, whose punishments are enshrined in the seven deadly sins. In the Mexican imagination, however, Lucifer has transformed from an almost immaterial, abstract entity into a living, almost human figure. He remains a seducer and mediator of the easy and the pleasant, but in his transformability, people have even lost their fear of him—even if the price for his favor and protection is always very high.
Let us defy the devil – and let us live!
And when our day comes, welcome death wherever it surprises us.
Because what we dance and live remains with us forever.
"The Day of the Dead - el día de los muertos" in Mexico is one of the most important traditions. This celebration represents the syncretism of pre-Hispanic and Spanish religious and cultural elements and is a key part of the Mexican cultural heritage. UNESCO recognized the importance of this cultural manifestation and included it in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008, defining it as traditional, inclusive, representative and community.
This year, the Latin American Institute and the Lichtraum by Sonia Siblik association invite you to the festivities and various events that will take place in honor of our deceased loved ones.
The exhibition "The Art of Dying - el Arte de Morir" presents works by artists from different countries who have dealt with the topic of death. Dying is seen as a way to live on in the collective memory of the family. The works reflect different perspectives and artistic forms of expression that address death as an integral part of life and cultural identity.
Immerse yourself in this moving exhibition and experience how diverse and profound the subject of death can be interpreted artistically. Further information about the exhibition and the participating artists can be found on the following website:
Latin America Institute:
Celebrate with us and experience the rich culture and moving traditions of this unique festival!
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