MEXICO

Moctezuma: Aztec ruler

BY NEIL MACGREGOR DIRECTOR OF THE BRITISH

n behalf of the Trustees of the British Moctezuma’s life and dramatic death are explained Museum, I would like to take this through a variety of stunning objects, generously opportunity to welcome President Felipe lent from Mexico, from monumental sculpture, gold Calderón Hinojosa to the UK on his and mosaic items to codices and European paintings. StateO Visit. The has a long-standing Recent finds and research will shed light on Moctezuma commitment to the presentation of Mexican cultures, and offer a re-assessment of his reign and legacy. The millions have visited the Museum’s permanent gallery exhibition will allow visitors to rediscover the Aztec devoted to Mexico since it opened in 1994. world and trace the foundation of modern Mexico. 2009 is a particularly apt time to be thinking about The exhibition is supported by ArcelorMittal and has Mexico and its rich history in advance of the celebration been conceived in partnership with the National Institute NEIL MACGREGOR of the centenary of the Mexican Revolution and bi- for Anthroplogy and History (INAH), Mexico City. has been Director of centenary of Mexican Independence in 2010. The Mexicana is the airline partner and additional support has the British Museum coincidence of these two anniversaries will allow the come from Visit Mexico. The exhibition would not have since 2002. He is an world to reconsider the history of Mexico. It has offered been possible without the personal commitment of the honorary Fellow of New an opportunity for us here at the British Museum, in Mexican Ambassador to the UK, Juan José Bremer and College, Oxford and partnership with colleagues in Mexico, to examine his colleagues, the Museum is greatly indebted to them the British Academy, a afresh the role of one of the key figures at a pivotal for their help and assistance. British Museum curators fellow of Birkbeck, and moment in the history of the Americas: Moctezuma II, have worked for many years with the Mexican National an Honorary Member who will be the focus of a major exhibition at the Council for Culture and the Arts (CONACULTA), of the Royal Scottish Museum opening in September 2009. This will be which has done so much to foster strong cultural ties that Academy. He sits on the the culmination of four extremely popular exhibitions exist in many fields between the UK and Mexico. Board of the National examining great rulers of world history. The exhibition will tell the story of Moctezuma II, the Theatre, is a member of the Waddesdon © Trustees of the British Museum Academic Committee, the State Hermitage Museum International Advisory Board and the UK National Directors’ Conference. He is also currently Chair of the World Collections Programme. From 1987-2002, Mr MacGregor was Director of the in London.

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FIRST last elected ruler of the Aztecs. He reigned successfully 1920 the country was transformed by the first socialist The artistic for almost two decades (1502–20), consolidating his revolution, from which emerged a strong left-wing empire, constructing a splendid new palace in the government that laid great stress on art as a vehicle for achievements Aztec capital (Tenochtitlan) and performing important promoting the values of the revolution. This led to a religious functions. He was considered to be divine by pioneering programme to cover the walls of public of the Aztecs his people, a vital intermediary with the Aztec gods, buildings with vast murals, and later to setting up print but was also a supreme military commander, heading workshops to produce works for mass distribution astonished the two most prestigious orders of Eagle warriors and and education. Some of the finest of these prints were Jaguar warriors. Moctezuma’s empire comprised much of produced by the three great men of Mexican art of the the Spanish modern highland Mexico, stretching from the Gulf Coast period: Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and David to the Pacific Ocean. Moctezuma’s world was unrivalled Alfaro Siqueiros. The exhibition will also include earlier and the rest until the devastating arrival of strangers – Cortés and works around the turn of the century by the popular his Spanish fleet. After initially welcoming the Spanish, printmaker, José Guadalupe Posada, who was adopted of the world, Moctezuma was captured and met his death shortly by the revolutionaries as the archetypal printmaker afterwards. In spite of fierce resistance, the Spanish went who worked for the people, and whose macabre dances and have on to conquer his empire. They repurposed Aztec objects of skeletons have always fascinated Europeans. The for Christian worship, shipped gold back to Spain, and Museum’s collection of modern Mexican prints owes continued to used fragments from Aztec pyramids and temples to a debt of gratitude to James and Clare Kirkman, Dave build their own structures. The Aztec response ranged and Reba Williams and The Art Fund. The exhibition wield a huge from conversion and adoption of the new faith to subtle is supported by The Monument Trust. forms of resistance and outright rebellion. An extensive public programme will give visitors influence on The artistic achievements of the Aztecs astonished the the chance to deepen their knowledge of Mexico from Spanish and the rest of the world, and have continued the Aztec period to the present day through lectures, Mexican art to wield a huge influence on Mexican art. Running debates, workshops and film. A special family event alongside the main exhibition, the Museum will present around the ‘Day of the Dead’ festival will take place on a survey of Mexican prints, ‘Revolution on Paper’ which 1st November, sponsored by BP. More information can allows the story of the creation of Mexico to be brought be found on www.britishmuseum.org up to date. The exhibition will be the first in Europe I very much hope that visitors to both exhibitions focusing on the great age of Mexican printmaking in the will take away a greater understanding of the enduring first half of the twentieth century. Between 1910 and cultural achievements of Mexico. F

The Mexican Gallery (left) and the Great Court (far left) of

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