Mexico 2018 - Belles Artes 1

The Palacio de Belles Artes is known as the "Cathedral of Art in Mexico" and is said to be the cultural centre of the arts in Mexico.

 Two of the best-known groups which regularly perform here are the Ballet Folklórico and the National Symphonic Orchestra.  The Palace has been the scene of some of the most notable events in music, dance, theatre, opera and literature and has hosted important exhibitions of painting, sculpture and photography. It operates under the auspices of the National Institute of Fine Arts, a government agency originally under the Department of Education, that promotes the arts through education and support of art centres throughout Mexico.  In any case, the building simply known as Belles Artes is a gorgeous art deco building built over a long period of time between 1904 and 1934.  The interior is decorated with huge murals by Diego Rivera, David Siquieros and others.

This year there were a couple of exhibitions of interest to me, the first was devoted to a bug, the cochineal.  

This tiny insect that lives on nopal cactus, when ground with lime juice, was used as a red dye by the Aztecs and after being discovered by the Spanish became global standard for the color red until modern pigments were developed.  It was the second most lucrative export for the Spaniards behind silver.  

 Cochineal dyed clothing

Wool dyed different shades

The other exhibit coming up......