The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), through the INAH Tlaxcala Center and the Regional Museum of Tlaxcala, inaugurated the photographic exhibition La Trenza by the artist Malena Díaz, celebrating the fundamental role of corn as a symbol of identity and social cohesion in the history of Tlaxcala, within the framework of the 500 years of its foundation.
During the opening ceremony, Malena Díaz, originally from Santa Ana Chiautempan, expressed her pride in the farmers and artisans of Ixtenco, Tlaxcala, whom she recognizes as guardians of a vast diversity of corn in Mexico. “Ixtenco, although not a large producer, is an invaluable reservoir of corn, as it preserves the greatest variety of examples of this essential grain for our culture,” said the photographer.
The director of the museum, Diego Martín Medrano, underlined the relevance of corn in pre-Hispanic societies and its constant presence in daily life. He recalled that, according to research by archaeologist Ángel García Cook, the domestication process of corn in Mexico has given rise to more than 250 varieties. He also emphasized the importance of the anthropological work of the INAH in the conservation of this cultural legacy.
The exhibition La Trenza is made up of 15 photographs that reflect corn as a symbol of life and continuity, from the mother’s womb to the daily kitchen. These images have also transcended borders: one of them, highlighted by National Geographic, will be part of an exhibition in Andalusia, Spain, at the beginning of 2025, as part of the cultural twinning between Mexico and Spain, promoted by the Mexican embassy in that country.
The exhibition was curated by Cándido Ramírez Vega, from the Regional Museum of Tlaxcala, and can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. La Trenza invites visitors to reflect on the role of corn in the construction of the Tlaxcalan identity and the continuity of its ancestral traditions.
Source: sintesis
