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All Mexico Morelia 'Uandákua Tsïuaxati/Brota la Lengua' ('The Language Springs')

'Uandákua Tsïuaxati/Brota la Lengua' ('The Language Springs')

One of Mexico's few murals dedicated to an indigenous language.

Morelia, Mexico

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linkogecko
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The work is full of symbolism.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
The mural at night.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Poem in Purépecha and Spanish.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
The mural is located on a corner.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Animal and human figures intermingle on the walls.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Child performing the “viejitos” (little old men) dance in Morelia. A similar figure can be seen in the mural.   LuisRodasSuárez
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About

The Purépecha people (also spelled P'urhépecha and formerly known as Tarascos) are strongly associated with the state of Michoacán. Estimates put the number of Purépecha language speakers in around the 120,000s. As a language isolate, it has been the subject of many linguistic studies.

Additionally, Mexican states such as Guanajuato and Querétaro have names of Purépecha origin ("Hill of Frogs" and "Place where the Ballgame Is Played," respectively). Ironically, Michoacán itself is of Náhuatl origin, as "Michihuacán," or "Place of Fishermen."

After the United Nations declared 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages, the state capital of Morelia saw an opportunity to celebrate this most representative of languages. "Uandákua Tsïuaxati / Brota la Lengua," a collection of works by bilingual Purépecha poet Rubí Tsanda Huerta, was chosen to title the mural, and quotes from the text were incorporated in both Purépecha and Spanish. The visuals were developed by urban artist Spaik Spike.

On the mural you can find colorful fish, symbols of Michoacán's many lakes and reputation for fishing. A man wears a bull-like figure on his back—this is the torito, which is fitted with lit fireworks to chase people on special occasions. Mother and daughter-like figures with skeletal faces represent the Purépecha Day of the Dead, known as animecha kejtzitakua.

The mother presents a viejito (from a well-known dance typical to the state) with a heart of the Purépecha flag's tetracolor, while the girl holds a well-known María rag doll. To top it all off, another figure runs holding one of the famed guitars of the town of Paracho.

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Murals Language Art Public Art

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The Plaza de la Paz is public and well-lit at night, so the mural can be appreciated at any time.

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Added By

linkogecko

Published

December 16, 2019

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  • https://redlab.mx/noticias/entrada/brota-la-lengua-un-mural-que-celebra-la-diversidad-linguistica
  • https://morelianas.com/eventos-morelia/inauguracion-mural-ano-internacional-lengua-materna/
  • https://www.20minutos.com.mx/noticia/154402/0/vive-la-fiesta-de-las-animas-en-tzintzuntzan-michoacan/
  • https://vivemexico.org/blog/origen-y-significado-del-nombre-de-estados-de-mexico/
'Uandákua Tsïuaxati/Brota la Lengua' ('The Language Springs')
825 Av Heroes de Nocupétaro
Morelia, 58000
Mexico
19.707172, -101.195736
Get Directions

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Biblioteca Pública de la Universidad Michoacana

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Biblioteca Pública de la Universidad Michoacana

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