If you’re in Brussels between now and 29.4.2007, you should really check out this exhibition at the Royal Museums of Art and History.
The Jansen collection has objects from all over the Americas, from Alaska to Patagonia, under the same roof. It is amazing to see the similarities and differences between these cultures. I had only been exposed to Mesoamerican art before, and the introduction of Central and South American objects from before the arrival of the Spaniards was quite a threat.
A very funny moment was when I noticed that an Aztec stone eagle on show looks just like the “Made in Mexico” logo. Of course it should.
Go, go, go! You won’t regret it.
I’ve stumbled with this issue so many times that I decided to post about it.
Highlights:
*America doesn’t necessarily mean the United States (even though in English it usually does).
*Mexico is not part of South nor Central America but North America. It is, however, part of Latin America. Latin America is a cultural subdivision rather than purely geographical.
*Mesoamerica and Central America are not the same thing.
*The continent (or continents) is very, very big. Even “smaller” countries such as Colombia or Ecuador are larger than most European countries. Flying from Mexico City to Sao Paulo is like flying from Mexico City to Frankfurt.
Musings from a child of globalisation.
