René Treviño

Moscas Brillantes (Negro) by René Treviño is on view in Latin American Art / Arte Latinoamericano.

This artwork, like others in Rene Treviño’s Regalia series, contains allusions to the ancient past, in the form of elaborate jewelry and costuming that Mesoamerican rulers from many centuries ago wore to emphasize their power. This figure also suggests the colonial world, as Treviño reimagines coronation robes for the Spanish administrators of the Viceroyalty of New Spain (present-day Mexico). Finally, the use of the color black and flies evokes the strong present-day veneration in Mexico of the icon of la Santa Muerte, or Holy Death. Drawing on Mexico’s past and present, Treviño creates a compelling vision of Latino/a/e futurism and possible Latino/a/e futures and superheroes.