Blog #6 Huichol Beading of Mexico
NOVEMBER 26th, 2023
Blog #6 Huichol Beading of Mexico
Welcome back everyone! In this blog entry I will be covering Huichol beading, a style of bead and string art native to Mexico.
Huichol beading arose from the Indigenous people of the Huichol tribe from the Jalisco and Nayarit regions of Mexico. The beading always includes vivid colors and symbols, animals and designs ancient and sacred to the Huichol people. They were one of the last tribes under Spanish colonization, but their pagan religion remained resilient to the Spanish rule. Their spiritual beliefs are expressed through art in beadwork, yarn painting, wooden masks or embroidered adornments.
Huichol Woman tending to her shop.
These religous beliefs are often depicted through representations of animals, ritual objects and nature. The Huichol religion places a great emphasis on Animism, the belief that places, objects and creatures posses spiritual essence. For example, deers and wolves have the capability to communicate with man, arrows transport prayers, and pumas are messengers of Gods.
There are four central dieties, the Trinity of Maze, Kawuyumaire the Blue Deer, Hikuri the peyote, and the Eagle. Therefore these dieties are commonly found in Huichol beading and art.
(NOVICA, Huichol Beadwork Mexican Eagle Votive)
Above is Kawuyumaire, the blue deer beaded into artwork.
The specific colors and designs used are important to signify particular gods. Brown belongs to Tatewari of the Earth and wood is related to Tayuapa, or Father Sun. Deer, coyote and pine trees are associated with Kauyumari while armadillos are associated with Takutzi Nakahue.
The color blue is used to represent the South, the Pacific Ocean, water and femininity. Green is used to represent the Earth, the heavens, healing and growth. Orange is used for representation of Wirikuta, the homeland. Vivid colors are used in all Huichol beadwork as the designs are inspired by the colorful natural world.
The iconography of Huichol Art is made up of circles, squares, diamonds, rectangles and arrows. Each symbol has a meaning, for example the circle symbolizes the sun and the arrow represents movement.
Today there are 18,000 people of Huichol origin and they continue the tradition of Huichol beading. However, the tradition had expanded to commercial consumption leading to many people doubting it's autnhneitciity when sold in the modern market. There is controversy over how genuine the Huichol-made goods are, and therefore how important thier value is. However for some, the commercial production of Huichol art allows for the Huichol tradition to be spread while simultaneously allowing the Huichol to retain their language, religion and customs through the expansion of the art.
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