Soy mexicana. Mi linaje incluye sangre nahuatl por parte de la rama materna, pero también me nutren otras sangres. Soy mestiza. Soy del siglo XXI. Pero a raíz indígena y el maíz, la tierra y la palabra, viven en mi y me dan fuerza. Es ésta una reflexión sobre lo que fuimos y ahora somos, sangre antigua, sangre nueva, conjunción de memorias y saberes.

De maíz es nuestra carne. En 2004, el maíz y la identidad propia están en peligro. El poder económico-político, a través de las semillas genéticamente modificadas (GMS) o trasgénicas, necesita de una uniformidad global para mantener e incrementar sus ganancias. Acabar con lo original para implantar su mundo artificial.

Parar el mundo por un instante y transformar la realidad cotidiana en un acto mágico que nos conecte con lo fundamental del ser, es la labor del Arte. Con esta acción ritual intento  invocar al maíz divino y al conocimiento antiguo, con palabras en nahuatl: Maka aik nimiki, Maka aik nipolihui, para que no perezca nunca.

Utilizo un traje original de la región de Caracuaro, precioso regalo de tres jóvenes mujeres purépechas, Juana, Angelina y Rosalba. Viajé por Europa realizando este ritual para honrarlas, y en ellas a todas las mujeres indígenas.

1. Not long ago the native roots of my people were something to hide and even be ashamed of. Being Mexican was a blurred identity. 2. Zapatismo brought to the surface the Profound Mexico, the indigenous being, with all its power and truth, and offered, among a bunch of alternative conceptions and actions, the possibility of recognize and accept our identity. We (almost) all have indigenous blood. 3. My lineage includes nahuatl blood from my mother’s mother side. 4. Maize, as fundamental food, is naturally embedded into mexican identity. We are made out of Maiz. 5. In 2004 maiz and any identity anywhere are in danger. GMS and economic and political power needs uniformity.

To stop the world for a moment and transform reality into a magical act that connects us with the primeval and fundamental is the labour of Art. In this performance l try to call the basic drive that allows the perception of those many other possible worlds already lived. Roots, Identity, Ritual, Nourishment are key words that link the spectators and turns them into participants, as is ‘interactive’ as any ritual. I wear an original outfit given to me as a precious gift by three pur’epecha women from Michoacan. Powerful young women searching for a wider horizon. I traveled around Europe and performed this ritual also to honor them. I dress in public and perform a ritual offering of maize seeds to the people passing by. Or a ritual dance in the shoreline calling for the Sea strenght for my people. Or build a spiral of hay to link earth and sky one more time.

I use nahuatl language, sing mayan songs. I offer the divine seeds praying for them to remain, “ Maka aik nimiki, maka aik nipolihui” (may it never die, may it never perish). As our life depends on it.

axion