(Bounty of Life from the River) by Santiago Alejandro Celis
(Bounty of Life from the River)
Santiago Alejandro Celis
(Bounty of Life from the River)
Who produced this painting is somewhat mysterious. There are many artists with the name Santiago Alejandro Celis - or a variation thereof - who work with amate (bark) paper and houache. To add to the mystery, the "signature" does not seem to match with any we've found; it may actually have been added by someone other than the artist. The closest stylistic match is the work of Xalitla artist and craftman, Santiago Alejandro Celis.
Celis was born in 1946 and by the age of ten was apprenticing with three local artists: Gregorio Rutilo, Pedro Diaz, and Pablo Nicolas, now considered among the most well known artists of the Alto Balsas region of Guerrero, Mexico. He continues to work and live in Mexico City.
The use of amate paper, which was made by the indigenous people of Puebla and Veracruz, was banned by Spanish colonizers in the 17th century when it was considered a tool of witchcraft. Amate papermaking nearly died out, save for the efforts of a few small, remote Otomi villages who managed to keep the craft alive. Around 1960 a revival of traditional arts surged throughout Mexico, and people once again began pursuing traditional arts.