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A large, brilliant depiction of Frida Kahlo commanded the room; it stood out from all other paintings. Her image was created by Quetzal, a talented local and artist whose name signifies the spiritual, mythical bird, color filled bird associated with Mexican culture: Quetzalcoatl.
Quetzalcoatl the bird, is one of several important gods in the Aztec pantheon. He is a feathered serpent, a creator deity and protector of craftspeople. In mythology, the bird Quetzalcoatl had a malicious brother named Tezcatlipoc who tricks Quetzalcoatl into drinking an intoxicant. This leads to Quetzalcoatl’s guilt fuelled self destruction, death and resurrection. Quetzalcoatl kills himself after which a star arose from the pyre. He turned a negative (the dark) into a positive (the light).
This myth mirrors the Vallarta artist Quetzal’s personal life. For years he drank the intoxicant alcohol. Guilt and shame caused him to quit, in essence killing the dark part of himself.
After years of not drinking, Quetzal suffered years of deep depression. Being in this dark, empty void caused him to soul search. These experiences transformed not only his art but Quetzal’s entire being. He now creates completely different art, turning a negative (the dark) into a positive (the light).
Quetzalcoatl is related to the planet Venus, of merchants and resurrection. The ancients believed Venus was two stars, the morning and evening stars. One star emerges from light while the other descends into the dark. Venus reflects the concepts which pervade ancient mythology, those of death and resurrection. Venus represents hope that through dark we can rise again. Venus, like in Vallarta’s local artist Quetzals own story, represents awakening from denial to awareness and moving from a lower to higher nature.
Darkness either destroys or creates great transcendence and beauty. I think of the igneous rock, kimberlite which comes from great pressure and erupts into light—that is, up to the earth’s surface, like a newborn pure baby born into the light from an enclosed, dark womb.
It is from this that artisans create beauty. Years of close scrutiny with decades of focus and precision can clarify and cut. Quetzal discards what is not needed to transform darkness into light—-his new paintings are like multi faceted diamonds of great depth that when examined from different perspectives expose brilliant rainbows of colours but yet somehow remain colorless as they leave the work open to interpretation by not telling the viewer what to think.
Quetzal’s early work which I saw over a decade ago of Frieda are undeniable beautiful. They capture her iconic beauty and strength. These types of paintings are what Quetzal describes as “easy to digest.”
Quetzal’s art evolved from what he describes as once being commercial (meaning easy to sell and quite profitable) to being something which invites reflection and questioning. He shifted his focus from making money to creating art “just for arts’ sake” because he “needs to.”
His newer works are interesting, thought provoking and less prescriptive. They invite the viewer to go deeper within. His newer style is more intimate and contain images that evoke curiosity and thought. They reflect Quetzal’s deep philosophical thinking and newly transformed life.
Quetzalcoatl the bird was also believed to be the God of learning. He was the protector of craftspeople. Quetzal, Vallartas local painter, continues to learn as he teaches and mentors new artists. He creates community and connections by bringing together Vallartas upcoming local talent. This is what all established artists should do—mentor and recognize others who wish to explore and express the depth of their soul.
In mythology, there are three phases to life. First is superficial, it can be about acquiring power or money. The second is a period of turmoil, darkness, and the third is the transition into service and light.
This is the story of Vallarta’s great local artist, Quetzal. His work arose from the dark; that is, his drinking, depression and his focus on money to now reflect the light (creating art that is true to the depths of his soul).
Art defines who Quetzal is. “Art is my life now, I cannot live without art. I once painted images that I knew would sell.” Identity as art are three words which I use to describe him as Quetzal’s chosen name represents his entire existence.
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