Assignment 5c

REVISIT MoLAA


MoLAA is the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, CA. This semester has been an incredible ride of increased awareness and understanding of what the Latin American people have been through and how all of it has shaped who they are today. I've felt, in the past, that much of the artwork was depressing. Now I know there were many reasons for depression and oppression to show through on the artwork. The past of this people has been far less than comfortable. But, I also now see a strength and beauty in them through this artwork. They have overcome and accepted the oppression as part of their heritage and have used it for the good. Contemporaries at MoLAA and visiting exhibits display a strength of character developed, perhaps mostly, from adversity and have made it beautiful.


Arnold Belkin was actually Canadian born (1930), but after being educated in Canada, moved to Mexico City and did the bulk of his work there, it seems considering his home Mexico City. He was a painter, draughtsman and sculpture and an assistant to David Siqueiros. He did a mural "The People Don't Want War" which I have not been able to locate a picture of thus far. But, the painting "Exodus 1951" at MoLAA, intrigues me as much.

Arnold Belkin's "Exodus 1951"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUaZHgJElTQ&feature=related .....about half way through the youtube video.

One of the research sites for assignment 2b had the youtube link which I found the piece of artwork in. As connected with interdisciplinary studies, I feel that this piece can be studied as a piece of artwork from the region as well as tell a story of the culture and experiences of that culture. We can see a family in the foreground of the piece, fighting the elements and trying to make the "Exodus", along with a large group in the background doing the same. We can see that they're barefoot which shows the oppression that they're apparently running from. The colors of grays and darkness give the gloominess of the occasion. The shading and texture of their blankets along with the grayness of night, give the frightening essence that they must be feeling.
The artwork is about just what it is titled, an "Exodus", a leaving of what they knew behind and into .......they just don't know, but hope it will be better.

I feel this piece of art, although done in the spirit of 1951, ties in with our studies in that again, these people are fleeing with nothing as far as material possessions. Perhaps another has taken over their homeland and tried to enslave them. It seems that this has been the norm for this culture. I feel that these people must have the same empty 'gray' feeling inside as is portrayed on the outside of their environs. I think it's the space and shades of gray and black along with the look of the wind whipping at them that gives this feeling.

I would like to know if this piece, done much later than the time of the periods we have researched, goes back to one of those eras or is of more hardship in more modern times. I know there have been several occasions that the people of this area have found themselves fleeing. Perhaps, they are trying to flee Mexico for a better life on the other side of the US border? I would very much like to know about when it is supposed to be and the circumstances surrounding it. Were they real people? Did Mr Belkin actually see them? Where were they going?