Bayrol Jiménez

Sombras de los Valles (Shadows of the Valleys)

Sombras de los Valles (Shadows of the Valleys) is part of a series of works created by Bayrol Jiménez in which he is influenced by hand-painted signs and large billboards in Mexico. From small artisanal store-front insignia to widespread symbols and lettering, Jiménez looks at how this iconography shapes Mexican cultural identity. It is worth noting that the hand painted signs especially are highly unique, especially in an age of homogenised digital images and reproduced typefaces. The artist pays homage to this visual identity with a traditionally woven rug made with recycled materials. The rug and its production also stand as a symbol of cultural identity in the face of globalisation. These rugs which represent a belief in the afterlife are often adorned with religious iconography used for collective prayer after the loss of a loved one. While made using pre-columbian techniques, Jiménez’s rug however represents the violent encounter with colonialism in its iconography.