Mexican artist opens show in Belize City

While a group of enterprising men and women will challenge themselves along the Belize River next week, a visiting Mexican artist will for the next fourteen days soothe the minds of visitors to the Institute of Culture Mexico-Belize on Newtown Barracks.

“Caribbean Sand, Texture and Color in Belize” is the title of the two week exhibition underway at the gallery of the Institute of Culture Mexico-Belize. The fifty two pieces of display are the brainchild of Mexican architect turned artist Rafael Cuitlahuac Gonzalez.

Although he’s been painting since his boyhood days in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, it wasn’t until 1983 that the forty six year old artist made the decision to dedicate the rest of his life to art. While most artists are content to stick with traditional mediums, like oil and charcoal, Cuitlahuac uses an innovative technique to express his ideas.

Rafael Cuitlahuac Gonzalez, Artist

“For me it’s an expression, an explosion of colors using a technique that can be abstract, that can also at any given moment, be naive, it can be a free expression.”

Although he has no formal art training, Cuitlahuac use of pigmented sand to characterize his great love for the sea and natural elements is exceptional.

Rafael Cuitlahuac Gonzalez

“The technique is pigmented sand. I use that in ninety percent of my primary material which is sand from the sea, limestone sand. To stick the elements together, I use different glues and pastels and for the colors I use mineral and vegetable pigments – shades and colors depending on which are permanent. The colors must be vivid, bright, so that the sun doesn’t damage them. The glue has to be sufficiently hard so it won’t break or fall off and you can wipe the paintings with a damp cloth for easy maintenance.

In any way, I believe it can be an unconscious way to express emotions, always being in contact with vivid colors, electric colors, colors of strength, colors of energy, this is reflected in my works. The use of those colors is a way of expressing myself and I always use it.”

Patrick Jones, for News Five.

Cuitlahuac’s exhibition, which opened today, will run until March thirteenth, after which he plans to take the display to San Pedro.