Taking the death topic as a game is part of mexican culture.
Under the title “La muerte CALAdeVERAS”, the designer and graphic artist, makes an exercise of exploration and graphic experimentation, based on 82 illustrated interventions of a skull-shaped icon that is used as a canvas, this graphic series is based on the culture of Mexico. These illustrations make a journey through its political and social history, crafts, festivals, characters and popular culture.
Archetypes of mexican culture expressed in faces occupying a skull format. A tzompantli where Mauricio Garcés coexists with Subcomandante Marcos, the tissue paper with the 1968 olympic graphic.
There is no room for confusion, the characters are completely recognizable and the excitement lies in how precise the representation is.
Posada knew it well when he skulled mexican society in the beginning of the 20th century, in image and literature: in prints where, antenna of collectivity, he got even and mocked and cried and recreated.
Apparently in this series the shape is the content.
It is already interesting right there.
Watching the representation is exciting.
Recognizing the personalities is the game.
Filling the bucket in the well of collective memory.
Making fun of folklore by folklorizing.
If the whole is called La Muerte CALAdeVERAS, it looks to me that the title is an irony to the damn cliché of “mexicans mock death” that is not even true. Because in reality, being alive is better.
-Alejandro Magallanes
Exhibitions and curriculum
Solo and intinerant exhibitions
Custom Skulls
La Muerte CALAdeVERAS was born as a graphic experiment, each one of the invitations to exhibit the collection was an unexpected surprise
Licensing
The project was adopted by Cerveza Victoria to build the brand’s most memorable Day of the Dead campaign.
Ceramic Sculpture
The ceramic sculptures were the natural evolution from plane to volume
Exhibition Catalog
Printed version for sale