Twilight

The Lacandón Maya live deep in the rainforest in the lowlands of Chiapas. The Lacandones have been rooted in the jungle for hundreds of years in relative isolation until recently. Their appearance and practices, which closely paralleded the Classic Maya mythologies, set them apart from the Maya in other parts of Mexico. But their traditions have long been threatened by outside influences. In the tiny village of Nahá, Don Antonio Martinez, now age 100, is the last one still faithfully practicing his traditions. He has no apprentice.

Twilight is inspired by one of my annual visits to pay respects to Don Antonio. This memory is from 2009 when one of the young Lacandón men guided friends and me around Lake Nahá in one of their traditional dugouts. Just a few years later fiberglass boats had taken their place, and that young man left the old ways.

These are poignant memories for me. But really this piece could also reflect what any of us experience when one thing wanes, and we move through a threshold into liminal space.

Elements: Oil and cold wax on cradled wood panel.