ADFAS talk: Mexican Art & Culture - Ancient & Modern

Chloe Sayer presents an in-depth talk on "Mexican Art & Culture - Ancient & Modern"

Before the Spanish Conquest of 1519, numerous civilisations rose and fell. The great cities of the Maya, the Aztecs, the Zapotec and the Mixtec were peopled by muralists, sculptors in stone, ceramic artists, feather- and gold-workers, jewellers, weavers, and painters of sacred books.

Colonisation brought Christianity to Mexico: exquisite churches and vast cathedrals were built to celebrate the new faith. The Colonial period also saw the introduction of materials such as wool and silk, an increased emphasis on embroidery, and new techniques such as treadle-loom weaving and beadwork.

Chloe Sayer is an independent scholar, author and curator, specialising in the art and culture of Latin America. A fluent Spanish-speaker, she has spent many years researching ancient traditions and contemporary craft skills. In 2016 the Mexican Government awarded her the prestigious Ohtli medal to thank her for her longstanding commitment to Mexican culture.