The Murals of Jalatlaco VI

 

 El Chapuline

On the street Cinco de Mayo one half block south of the little blue mural we find this mural, new this year, titled, I suppose, El Chapulin, as that is what it is: a grasshopper. Grasshoppers are a part of the diet here. They are roasted and crumbled and they have a nutty crisp taste rather like crisp spicy bacon. In various markets it is common to see mounds of these critters and I often wonder how they are grown: are there grasshopper farms? Is there a plague in the countryside of which we city folk are unaware? Most tourists turn up their noses at the offering of these delicacies but eventually they will enjoy some that are an unidentified part of the dish being served.

The two plants are agave plants and they are the source of mezcal the local version of tequilla, also made of agave butt of a different type. The critter seems to me to be standing on an agave nut, the base of the plant after the leaves have been hacked off. This is then roasted in a closed pit etcetera etcedtera etcetera.

The stark black painting of the insect and plants is very similar to the graphic art that is done here, wood cuts and linoleum cuts ...and lithographs too. The line work is a well blended combination of brush and spray paint. The ground is a lovely and well controlled wash of various colors and rather reminds me of the work of Helen Frankenthaler. The controlled runs are a final fillip of technical expertise.

If you hit the link to the two web sites of the artist you will see him at work and as well many of the graphic artworks that he does. A few of these are similar to the work of Keith Haring. On his web page there is a photograph of a decorative mural he has done in New York City.

It is also stated that he lives in Mexico City but many of his murals say that he loves Oaxaca. Don’t we all.

https://www.jorgepradoart.com/

https://www.instagram.com/jpradoart/