René Serrano Rodriguez Blog

"Heritage: This was my second visit to the Lacandon Jungle. In 2016, I visited a cacao-producing Tojolabal community near the Jataté River, and I knew I had to come back... This time, the opportunity arose through the Lacanjá reserve, as indicated on road signs, only to find panels in Maya where the entire population still speaks it, using Spanish only to communicate with us outsiders. Life in the jungle at around 28-29 degrees Celsius becomes not so easy with the humidity in the air; however, the experience of being close to nature conditions the bones. In reality, the Lacandon people are very accustomed to city dwellers; there are even camps where people are formally welcomed who seek a genuine connection to nature. I experienced several similarities between the Tenejapa community in 2016 and here in Lacanjá: Alcohol is not allowed, there is no trash, and one can comfortably walk at 3:00 in the morning, worrying only about a Jaguar taking a stroll. Traditional clothing was on

"The Pátzcuaro Lake basin is now shallow; fifteen years ago, it would have been around 20 or 10 kilometers deep. The lake is 60% polluted, and today, two of its nine islands are no longer islands due to their shallow depth. The lake's pollution is largely due to various organic and inorganic waste, attacking the fauna and endangered species. Despite having two water treatment plants, waste, deforestation, direct discharge of wastewater by nearby villages make the lake's cleanliness an impossible task and perhaps a prophecy of its disappearance. Using this water for the region's crops is dangerous, making their food a health risk for the inhabitants and tourists in Pátzcuaro, where part of this harvest is sold. Michoacán, named in honor of our precious liquid (Place of lakes-fishermen-fish), has seen an increase in temperatures, reducing its bodies of water. The series aims to narrate my concerns and fears reflected in my postcards, my respect for traditional fishermen

Hello I'm reaching out to greet you and cordially invite you to visit some Michoacan landscapes and other places in our beautiful country as part of the International Cervantino Festival in Guanajuato.  Festival Internacional Cervantino You can visit the exhibition throughout the Festival's schedule from October 10th to 28th, 2018. We are preparing it with much love, and I hope it will be to your liking. Thank you for your time, and have an excellent weekend. René images: https://reneserranojournal.tumblr.com/ Press:  https://redlab.mx/noticias/entrada/llega-al-festival-internacional-cervantino-la-exposicion-origenes-y-caminos-del-artista-moreliano-rene-serrano https://www.mexicoescultura.com/actividad/195213/origenes-y-caminos.html

United Live 8 vinyl. A review of this red-colored bootleg vinyl. The year is 2005, and I was living in the city of Madrid, Spain, finishing a Master's in Arts, a very good year indeed... It was the 2nd of July in the early morning when I found out that in London, the classic lineup of  Pink Floyd  was about to perform.  No more, no less: David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Rick Wright, and the surprising reunion with Roger Waters. This reunion was made possible by none other than Bob Geldof. The main character in  The Wall,  movie, a musician, and activist to whom the creation of the  Live Aid  foundation is owed. He organized a series of concerts, in this case, to urge the   G8  to reduce the debt of  african , countries and commit to helping combat poverty. Surprised from an eighth floor in Madrid, I hurriedly went down to a travel agency in the streets of Malasaña, but it was impossible to be in that city on time. In the end, I watched it live on the television in the place where I w

P.U.L.S.E. is originally a double CD by Pink Floyd, derived from recordings of the tour following the release of the "Division Bell" album in 1994. I had the opportunity to acquire it at an old and legendary music store in Morelia called "Hábitos Privados." One of the details of this album was that the first editions featured an LED that simulates a heartbeat, a feature no longer present in later versions of this edition. Simultaneously, a concert DVD, a cassette, a diskette with a screensaver, and a box set with 4 vinyl records were released. The box set had a limited and restricted release in the United Kingdom. To date, it is a pressed item with high prices and is consequently highly coveted.  In 2018, a new version of this brilliant album, considered by me as the best live album by Pink Floyd, was re-edited and remastered for vinyl. Each of the 180-gram vinyl records surpasses its CD counterpart

Ivonne Laura Poly Paty "The body always seems impressive and beautiful to me, but in its female version, it appears even more like a connection to my own duality. I think my masculine and feminine sides are more present.  I started taking life drawing classes when I entered the academy at the age of twenty. Since then, I have been fascinated by the human body, with a preference for the female form. Being an audiophile juror, I am the custodian of a discreet collection of vinyl music that is constantly growing.  At some point, I will make a post about how much audio and music have to do with my life and artistic work.  My appreciation for high-resolution audio comes from a very early age, perhaps from the age of 6 when I visited my aunt and uncle constantly on my mother's side.  My babysitters were the turntable, speakers, and a gigantic collection of rock music; The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin... Many more... It's not really music from

"Agua Perla is a Cacao community in the Chiapas Jungle on the banks of the Jataté River, at the foothills of Lacandona. I arrived there due to my enthusiasm for chocolate, stemming from my work as a laborer in a bakery-pastry shop. Thanks to a small course, I started a small artisanal chocolate brand, praline. To get there, you need to land at Tuxtla Airport and go to the town of Comitán. From there, take a series of shared taxis towards the town of Maravilla Tenejapa. Once almost on the border with Guatemala, you'll need to get to the limits of the population, where you'll have to proceed to the outskirts and hitchhike. You'll reach a bridge and need to hitchhike again to the next river, where you'll cross with the help of a little boat. Then, take another hitchhiking ride to the town of Agua Perla." "Many kilometers of dirt roads and river crossings to reach this beautiful place. The kindness of the people is incredible, as well as

This is another piece that I am fortunate to keep in my place. It is a wonderful Kirdi piece dating back to around 1800, which I acquired in 2014. In Cameroon (Central Africa), there is a small ethnic group called the "Kirdi" (The Pagans). This tribe of nomadic farmers, known since 1600 for their colorful accessories, provided me with this beautiful loincloth in an African object market in the heart of Brussels. Married women or those entering mature age wear this type of "loincloth" (a kind of loincloth made up of small metal strips), which also serves as an indicator of status in their society. The tribe, active since 1600, continued to use this type of accessory until 1961 when women were compelled to dress completely by government instructions. I'm sharing other Kirdi pieces from different collections.

After leaving my studies in Business Administration, I embarked on a six-year journey as an immigrant, engaging in various occupations such as mason, farmer, cleaning, and working in pastry and kitchen roles while pursuing my studies in Fine Arts in Belgium. Back in Mexico and passionate about chocolate, I launched a small brand of artisanal " Pralines Chocolate " in Morelia, which led to a visit to the cacao community of " Agua Perla " deep in the Lacandon Jungle. This inspired the creation of the artwork "Fruta de Cacao," which, in addition to its form and pigments, incorporates elements like "monitos" from the "Rosca de Reyes cake" aa tradition, from Belgium and later adopted in Spain and Mexico. The artwork: " Skull A" was a resin skull filled with four types of chocolates: "Smarties", "M&Ms", "Lunetas", and "bootleg Lunetas". Smarties, initially produced in England and can

It was in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, when I acquired this beautiful ritual mask from the "Bobo" tribe. I was visiting a hotel where I had to create a series of photographs for its virtual tour of the facilities when I came across this piece. I knew something about this tribe because I had an excellent art history class at Beaux-Arts Tournai. The African section in the curriculum was incredible and well-developed by my teacher Viviane Guelfi. The Bobo ethnic group is located in Africa, specifically on the border between Burkina Faso with 100,000 inhabitants and Mali with about 50,000. The Bobo ethnic group speaks a language called Mandé, primarily spoken in this region of West Africa. The Bobos are farmers, cultivating mainly millet, sorghum, and cotton, from which they make their clothes and generate some sales. Without a centralized government, they organize into lineages where the elders form a council and make decisions. The idea of a "chief" is profoundly "s

I have always felt a strong attraction to African art. Interestingly, I haven't been there, know little about it, and it hasn't been a priority or a dream for an upcoming trip. However, getting to know its art through museums captivates me. I am fortunate to have acquired some pieces throughout my life, and one of them is this "Notarial Act." The piece was purchased during a visit to the "Passé Composé" store in 2014, hosted by my friends Thierry Delannoy and Sylvie Deleersynder in Tournai, Belgium. This piece of wood, approximately 23 x 6 cm, bears illegible calligraphy, at least for me, arranged on the front. Part of what could be an "official seal" of some local authority with a red pigment can be discerned. These types of Acts date back to the 12th to late 18th century in the northern region of Africa. During this period, official documents such as notarial acts, marriage certificates, and "deeds" for homes were often recorded on p

Tlacolula is a small village in Oaxaca, near the archaeological site of Mitla in Mexico, and is home to one of the country's most famous markets, offering spices, liquors, textiles, and food. During weekends, a visit to this beautiful Oaxacan market is a must. At the entrance of this delightful place, a meeting between these beautiful ladies took place, seemingly welcoming you to the market. The conversation was equally delightful. On a sunny afternoon, their traditional dresses blended with the colors of fruits and the beauty of the surroundings. The smiling women guided me to the best stall for savory chapulines (crickets). With mezcal and regional food, you'll think twice before leaving the place. Tlacolula is a small village in Mexico that hosts one of the country's largest stands of exotic spices and food. I enjoy engaging in meaningful conversations with people I meet, and this time, these wonderful and beautiful women shared a moment with me, offering guidance on t

The Coast Guy 2015 Tuxpan, Veracruz. First day of 2015 After visiting El Tajín, I stayed on the coast of Tuxpan and met this friendly fruit vendor with his extraordinary motorcycle. After striking up a conversation, his bike got stuck, and with the help of the locals and me, we managed to get it running again. It was a lovely start to the year. The beach, as always, is one of the best settings for reflection...

Michoacán, a place where everything is born... Even in death, it finds rebirth. This unforgettable lady is one of the images that have lingered in my heart the most, and one of the first images I can proudly say I captured. This took place on November 2nd, in the year 2000. The lady and I spoke for quite a while outside an ancient temple in Pátzcuaro, Michoacán: El Sagrario, founded by Vasco de Quiroga in 1540. In this grandmother, I see a representation of our heritage and our connection to ancient divinities and wisdom. The beauty of her wrinkles makes me envision the poetry of life's journey.