“Real Gold” is based on a legend that the artist heard during one of her first trips to the Mayan jungle. The story goes that, when the Spanish arrived, they told the indigenous people that they would not harm them if they collected all the gold possible in two weeks.
The indigenous people accepted, and during that time they sent their women, children and men to look for all the gold. After two weeks, the conquistadors returned expecting to find large quantities of precious metals. However, upon approaching the mountains of supposed gold, they discovered that what they collected was corn.
For the indigenous people, the true gold was corn: with it they fed their population, built their homes, and considered it a god of nature. This grain was a symbol of life, abundance and spiritual connection with the earth. This collection invites us to rethink what we really value as a society through each work.
The indigenous people accepted, and during that time they sent their women, children and men to look for all the gold. After two weeks, the conquistadors returned expecting to find large quantities of precious metals. However, upon approaching the mountains of supposed gold, they discovered that what they collected was corn.
For the indigenous people, the true gold was corn: with it they fed their population, built their homes, and considered it a god of nature. This grain was a symbol of life, abundance and spiritual connection with the earth. This collection invites us to rethink what we really value as a society through each work.
