Visions Huichol

The Huichol of southwestern Mexico are an autochthonous community with strong religious beliefs long handed down from ancestral traditions. They are known for their sacred use of peyote, the hallucinogenic cactus that they believe makes it possible to commune with the gods. Their nierika, or “objects to see,” are among their most recognizable artistic traditions. These enigmatically themed and brightly colored “yarn paintings” relate to visions associated with dreams and mythology. Inspired by ancient ritual practices, these creations evolved during the twentieth century and became an art form sought after by collectors worldwide. With Visions Huichol, un Art Amérindien (Huichol Visions, an Amerindian Art), Marseille’s Musée d’Arts Africains, Océaniens, et Amérindiens presents the richness of this expressive and mystical art through works by established artists such as Benítez Sánchez and Ramón Medina. Anthropologist Michel Perrin, who spent a number of years living among the Huichol, has provided detailed information for the exhibition that enables the viewer to decipher the symbols in the works, follow the stories they tell, and, in so doing, discover a people and their history.

Visit the exhibition's official website.

Martin de la Cruz (Niuveme), 1989

José Benitez Sanchez, 1988

Images and information courtesy of the Musée d’Arts Africains, Océaniens, et Amérindiens, Marseille