My Expressions

In 1932 , the well known Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siquerios was commissioned to paint a mural on the second – story exterior wall of a historic building of a historic building in downtown Los Angeles. Siquerios was asked to celebrate tropical America in his work , which he accordingly titled ‘America Tropical’.

He painted the mural’s first two sections , featuring images of a tropical rain forest and a Maya pyramid, during the day. However , to avoid scrutiny , Siquerios painted the final section of the mural , the centerpiece, at night. The reason for Siquerios’s secrecy became clear when the mural was unveiled. The centerpiece of the work was dominated by images of native people being oppressed and included an eagle symbolizing the United States. Siquerios’s political message did not please the wealthy citizens who had commissioned his work . They eventually ordered the mural to be whitewashed or painted over with white paint.

However, by the late 1970s , the white paint had begun to fade and the bright colours of the mural were beginning to show through . At the same time , a social and civil rights movement for the Mexican – Americans was working to raise awareness of Mexican-American cultural identity. Artists associated with this movement began to rediscover and promote the work of Mexican muralists , especially Siquerios. To them ‘America Tropical ‘ symbolized how art in public places could be used to garner support and recognize Mexican – American heritage while at the same time making a political statement.

Inspired by Siquerios and other muralists , this new generation of artists strove to emulate the old mural masters . The result was the Chicago mural movement, an explosion of mural painting that spread throughout California and southwest United States in the 1970s. Hundreds of large , colourful new murals depicting elements of Mexican – American life and history appearing during this period , some in designated cultural locations but many more in abandoned lots , on used buildings , or on infrastructure such as highways and bridges .

Many of these murals can still be seen today , although some have not been well maintained . Fortunately , a new group of artists has discovered the mural , and efforts are underway to clean , restore and repaint them . And once again , Siquerios’s ‘America Tropical’ is leading the way

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