It's Art That is Alive: Artists Carlos Betancourt and Luvia Lazo on Honoring the Natural Elements and Cultural Traditions of Mexico
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- 15 Dec 2021
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Far too often, photographer Luvia Lazo sees people from her Zapotec community—a culture originating from the Oaxacan region of Mexico—depicted through the lens of an outsider. The goal of her work is to add her perspective as a native woman. In a recent series, “Kanitlow,” Lazo positioned her subjects in ways that obscured their faces while highlighting cultural elements that are at risk of disappearing, from local flowers to a traditional garment or hairstyle.
Born in Puerto Rico and now based in Miami, multimedia artist Carlos Betancourt is also interested in preserving the cultural traditions of Mexico, which he’s visited regularly over the last 35 years. For his latest public art project, Milagros!, he hung hundreds of hojalata (tin) charms—symbols of devotion, hope, and healing, all handcrafted by Oaxacan artisans—over a street in Miami Beach.
Sharing in their mutual admiration for how much art imbues everyday life in Mexico, the artists spoke with Artnet News on the need (for local and non-local artists alike) to “keep it real,” as Betancourt says, while paying homage to the country’s cultural traditions in their work.
What is the story behind each of your decisions to pursue a creative career?
Luvia Lazo (L.L.): I never planned to work as a creative. I’m from a little village in Oaxaca, where your first thought is to start making things to get money or [an] opportunity [for] a better life.
I discovered that photography was the way I wanted to do that. I wanted to share another perspective from our community in Oaxaca. I wanted to show us as we are; to have more honest and real photos of thoughts and feelings—as an indigenous woman, especially. I was a bit tired of seeing us just as one thing all of the time. I wanted to go deeper.
Carlos Betancourt (C.B.): I feel that [art, as] my calling, was predisposed—that it was decided by someone else a long time ago.
I always knew I wanted to create things, [ever] since I was young. I don’t know if it was the culture around me, but my parents told me I always had a pen and a pencil in hand; [I was always] drawing. I just didn’t know which discipline [I would pursue].
What draws you to Mexico as a fruitful setting for artistic production?
L.L.: [In] Mexico, especially Oaxaca, things are very connected: People are connected to [the] earth, to nature. Everything feels alive—things, places—and everyone is creative. When people visit Oaxaca, they can see art really [coming] alive in people and things.
[They may not be] aware that they are, but everyone in Mexico is an artist. So I think as someone from Mexico, that allows you to explore.
C.B.: I will add to what [you] said, Luvia: I call Mexico “the continent of Mexico.” It’s a world unto itself. It’s so different from any other cultural force out there; it is so defined.
I think when you have a culture that understands its traditions so well, it grounds you [as an artist]. It gives you such a solid foundation for your work. Also [in] Mexico, it’s like a living culture—in Spanish, we call it “cultura viva.” It’s art that is alive.
I don’t live in Mexico, but I’ve been going for 35 years. It’s difficult to compete with the culture itself because Mexicans, in general, they live their art. They’re surrounded by it.
I admire the Mexican people—how they fight for their culture, for their traditions. I think that without that,, we don’t have art. Read More…
