Huichol art originated in the state of Jalisco – Nayarit / Mexico towards the Wixárika region settled throughout the medullar center of the Sierra Madre Occidental, inhabited by the Wixarikas or Huicholes as they are known today, also occupying Zacatecas and Durango.
Wixarika, in the Wixaritari or Vaniuki language or dialect (Huichol language), means “the people“, a self-designation of respect that this race gave itself when the Mexica began to call them Huichol in a derogatory manner, before the Spanish conquest. The conquerors were informed of this denomination without knowing the context of mockery and ended up baptizing them this way for posterity, until the redemption before the original peoples gave them back their real name, remaining as a dupla since the term huichol is no longer understood as an offense.
Huichol art begins with themselves
The Wixarikas wear notorious clothing such as the kamirra or kutuni (shirt) that is open on the sides and fastened at the waist with the juayame, a thick and wide sash made of worsted or wool that carries on top several embroidered pouches called kuihuame or huaikuri attached with a cord, which are not useful, they are simply complements to the adornment. The kuchurri are embroidered or woven backpacks that cross over the shoulder; on their back, the embroidered scarf called tubarra. They carry the rupupero (hat) made of palm and adorned with feathers, flowers, bark, thorns, stamens, all according to the use they are going to give it. The man is the one who wears the most artistic adornments.
The woman dresses in a simpler way: A kutuni (short blouse to the waist), her ihui (skirt with waistband), where there are samples of Huichol art in a wide range of embroidery that combine with her ricuri, embroidered blanket with which she covers her head. The Huichol clothing is defined as having magical meanings, since each embroidery and accessory is a protection.
What is the meaning of Huichol art
Huichol art is noticeable in the rituals of the Maraakates (priests) in which they use Muwieris (chopsticks adorned with feathers).
The sacred representations are based on their four deities: Eagles, Peyote, Corn and Deer, the descendants of Tau (the Sun). Religion is part of the Wixarika’s life, since it is committed to all of existence and with which they can peacefully express themselves.
The real meaning of Huichol art is to represent two worlds: the tangible one and the one that their extrasensory unfolding dictates or inspires them to make.
Every Huichol artisan is focused on representing their roots, needs and customs, based on a very autochthonous and inimitable cosmogonic inspiration. In the last decades they have increased their artistic expression showing their integration with modern societies and the retro-influence between both, which has helped them to show to a greater degree their historical roots and live modestly from commerce.
In Huichol art we can find:
- The four elements of creation: fire, air, water and earth.
- Sacred animals with scents and expressions that increased their fierceness and respect.
- Images described through their concentration rituals, where they crossed the threshold of the intangible to connect with their deities.
- Everyday animals that signify companionship, respect or fear and that they see in their daily lives. Huichol art for sale today is very much about scorpions, turtles, deer and jaguars.
- Everyday implements, such as gourd pots or gourd jícaras, also reflect deities. The masks in Huichol art show the ways in which the artisans, in their astral journeys, see their deities and thus represent them, only allowing the most capable and pure to wear them to guide them.
- Ornaments with small chaquira beads placed by hand one by one, according to the pattern of their inspiration.
- Canvases formed on wooden boards prepared with a special wild beeswax collected from the sierra and elaborated by themselves in which are intermingled yarns of yarn dyed with various colors.
- Jewelry inspired by the attire of the priests, now more modified and modernized for sale to the female market avid of Huichol art.
One of the most important pieces in the Huichol art and that is known and commented in the houses of study of Mexico is the so-called Ojo De Dios, a set of rhombuses (5) made of wooden crosses woven in multiple colors and symbolizing the cardinal points of the Indians, which when turned allows them to know where the power is and where the perdition is, helping them to understand the unknown things thanks to the meanings of the colors, which the softer they are, the more peace and concentration they mean.
