Object Record
Images
Metadata
Artist |
Francisco Delgado |
Title |
Antropofagio: Radio Flyer |
Date |
2014 |
Medium |
Oil |
Dimensions |
H-60 W-72.5 inches |
Dimensions |
60" x 72.5" |
Description |
Francisco Delgado Antropofagia: Radio Flyer, 2014 Oil on canvas, 60" x 72.5" Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2020.2.4.9 Gift of Juan Antonio Sandoval Jr. Using Renaissance perspective and chiaroscuro, Francisco Delgado’s painting is a visual metaphor for his life living and working in the borderland of El Paso. Despite the rocks and cacti obstructing his passage, a young man wearing only shorts and Nike shoes plows his Radio Flyer tricycle forward. Oddly, the tricycle rider is headless, and his face is on his stomach. According to the artist, his imagery was inspired by the Brazilian poet Oswald de Andrade’s 1928 Manifesto Antropófago (Anthropophagist Manifesto). Its argument is that colonized countries, such as Brazil, should ingest the culture of the colonizer and digest it in its own way. Delgado refers to this "cultural cannibalism" to explain how "Chicanos ingest American culture, and we make it our own." The artist combines this cannibal concept with the Blemmyae, headless human figures with faces on their torsos, as found in Greek and Roman mythology and medieval art. Francisco Delgado was born on November 3, 1974 in Ciudad Juárez, and grew up in El Paso’s Segundo Barrio. He received his Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Art. His Bordeño artworks are informed by the social and cultural struggles inherent to life on the Mexican and United States border. His artwork addresses issues of identity, race, cultural traditions, and government policies that affect migration and immigrants. In his own words, Delgado says "I am a visual artist with an artistic focus on social issues". He visually represents the history of his community and creates a dialogue for social change. Often using dark humor or satire to depict his narratives, his artwork highlights the struggles of underrepresented people along the border. A prolific artist, Delgado works in painting, drawing, printmaking, and has also produced community murals. His works have been published in books, exhibited in national and international art exhibitions and community institutions. Francisco currently resides, teaches, and creates artwork in El Paso. |
Object Name |
Painting |
Search Terms |
Border Cannibalism Consumerism Nike Tricycle El Paso |
Object Number |
2020.2.4.9 |
Collection |
Juan Antonio Sandoval Jr. Collection |