"El hombre de las máscaras"


In this painting by Orduña, a figure of a Mexican indigenous is present. The use of color and technique used by Orduña on the man makes it clear that it represents an indigenous figure. The clothing of the man is a traditional outfit that Mexicans would wear back in colonial times, meaning that this figure is from the past. The background of the painting, where the man is seating has aspects of a tomb and by looking at all of the masks around him it seems that he had dug and found all of these. The indigenous man is surrounded by all different kinds of masks that he had found all of these buried treasures from past ancestors. In an in interview with the artist, Orduña mentioned that ‘in the history of Mexico masks have had a preponderance ritual and spiritual symbolism’(Mexican Culture in His Artwork). Masks also included myth and religion that in early times people and Gods were used as representations, but also considering life and death. Mexican masks nowadays have a magical, satirical, erotic, warlike, and didactical meaning (Mascaras Mexicanas). In ancient civilizations masks were used mainly in rituals of high significance. Some of the masks displayed in the painting have great meaning in Mexican culture. However the two masks that the man is holding are considered the most important due to the background history it has for both past and present Mexicans. The one he is using to cover his identity is a jaguar mask.
                                                     Priscilla Schiaffino

Obra pictórica

MAYA
El hombre del rito y la magia


Hacedores de alebrijes



Bailando en un cabaret de los 50's


Personajes de carnaval


Mujer con luna


Matrimonio Castro



El peleador



La dama que lloraba de noche (La llorona)