PRESENTATION OF THE BOOK ‘UNUSUAL MEXICO IN EUROPE’ IN THE UK


 

LONDON, United Kingdom, 9th November 2015.- As part of the programme of the Year of Mexico in the United Kingdom it was held the presentation of the book ‘Unusual Mexico in Europe’ (México insólito en Europa, its title in Spanish), by the Mexican researcher Miguel Gleason, which compiles more than 600 photographs of pieces from pre-Hispanic, colonial and modern Mexico exhibited in museums across Europe.

The Mexican researcher, after thousands of photographs, 13 years of research and 17 countries visited, decided to make a selection of his work in order to integrate a book, which main purpose would have been to promote Mexican art not only in Europe but in his own country. Some of that material is set in an interactive compact disc specifically about pieces displayed in museum collections in the UK.

The prologue of the book is written by Miguel Leon-Portilla, and it contains snapshots of feather art, sculptures, paintings, jewellery, coins, letters, codex’, among others, this are accompanied by comments of researchers and experts from countries which he toured such as Germany, Austria, Spain, Great Britain, Holland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Ireland, Denmark, the Republic of Malta, Hungary, Italy and The Vatican.

During the book’ presentation at the Official Residence of Mexico, Ambassador of Mexico, Diego Gomez-Pickering highlighted, in front of specialists, researchers, academics and diplomats, the presence that Mexico maintains in Europe and in the UK, through various cultural manifestations, the same that has been reinforced through-out multiple activities during the Year of Mexico in the United Kingdom.

Gleason shared that among the most peculiar objects he portrayed there is an Aztec sculpture of the goddess Cihuaéotl buried in Scotland, which was discovered by a farmer, who, not knowing what it was, used it as the head of a scarecrow, years later was examined and today is exhibited at the British Museum. The book contains pictures of Moctezuma's headdress; a small sculpture of Tlaloc, who was initially confused with the image of "the head of a hippopotamus" and bands with which were probably covered the eyes of Maximilian of Habsburg and Miguel Miramon, to be shot.

The communications expert confirmed that its work will continue, as he still keeps enough material, which could lead to a second volume, in addition to a similar integration project with Mexican art found in the United States and Canada.

 

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