A trio of talented Oaxacan artists recently unveiled a new mural in Oaxaca, Mexico, as one that aims to give commentary regarding the great recent pains globally. The mural’s name is ‘Necropolitika’, a reference to the dark politics surrounding so many of today’s pressing issues that have been front and center in all media platforms. Their names are Jesus Kobe, Alejluis and dedos (Anselmo Vargas), and they have multiple decades each participating in the format, which is impressive considering their participation in mural art begins during adolescence and childhood.
The mural is located in northern Oaxaca, Oaxaca, and can be found specifically in Colonia Volkanes. It’s on the reader to find it on their own since the mural is not necessarily aimed at pleasing the tourists of the city nor to exclude them. Instead, it’s meant to be part of the Oaxacan’s public’s education.
From Covid to Palestine, the ambitious mural notes the permanence of these two, perhaps, recurring events. In both instances, an invocation of a weapon or artefact of industry is made. Additionally, the invocation of profits globally is impossible to miss with or without opinion.
Winners & Losers In Competing Narratives
The sheer fact that there is a winner and loser in all narratives around geopolitics should be clear. Victims have no voice. Unless, of course, artists give them a voice without hesitation around the basic elements. Most people cannot opine in the printing press of mass media. Artist’s act as the mediation between popular sentiment and time immemorial.
In the case of the oil reference, one can connect to a missile while Covid’s depiction can be linked to the symbolism around syringes and facemasks. Crucially, amongst so many competing narratives. the depiction of the symbols is not an attempt at limiting the vision or influencing the opinion directly. Instead, it gives one the pieces around the topic while also providing the centerpiece of it all: the Palestinian and grief inherent in war.
The work was a collaborative one, but under the Zempasúchil banner led by Jesus; it has received a healthy dose of local media attention. Local academic institutions are also looking to understand the commentary and presence of the mural in this Oaxaca neighborhood whose exact location will be revealed at a later date.
The Euro Dollar and The American Dollar
In one portion of the mural, a syringe is painted with a green background while in a red background a missile is depicted, and a US dollar is close by intersecting between the foreground of the Palestinian flag and a Palestinian woman grieving.
Jesus Kobe, Oaxaca muralist placing the final touches to latest mural piece. Since 2002, Kobe has traveled globally and created art commentating succinctly on the geopolitical and social trends driving humanity.