The Colours of the Earth Modern Textile Art in Mexico

The exhibition reflects on the relationship between culture, nature, and community through photography, textile installations, ceremonial Huipiles, infographics, and video works. Through textile art, it reveals that ancestral knowledge is alive and constantly evolving. It celebrates the role of Indigenous weavers as guardians of textile knowledge and, in the face of ecological crises and cultural homogenization, presents ethical and sustainable alternatives.

The vibrant colours of the woven textiles embody years of research, collaboration, exchange, and experimentation, offering insight into the contemporary textile art of Mexico. Rooted in centuries-old knowledge, these works are deeply connected to nature and to the social structures of the communities from which they emerge.

The works open a window onto a world in which colour is not merely decorative, but also conveys identity, history, and worldview – and in which the colourants used, derived from plant, animal, or mineral sources, reflect the ecological diversity of the respective regions.

The exhibited objects were created as part of a unique collaborative art project rooted in the tradition of socially engaged and participatory art. The works on display should not be regarded as autonomous individual pieces, but rather as material expressions of a collective, relational, and process-oriented practice. Additionally, the exhibition touches on the influence of current fashion trends and the impact of social media on trade within these communities.

The exhibition features works from the private collection of Carlos Barrera Reyes – some of which are being shown outside Mexico for the first time.