Hierbitas de saberes / Tiny Herbs of Knowledge - Blanka Amezkua
It is said that botanical diversity in Mexico is the result of the physical complexity of the land and many of the medicinal plants first used in pre-Hispanic civilization are still in use today. We know about them thanks to the Libellus de Medicinalibus Indorum Herbis (1552), commonly referred to as the Cruz-Badiano codex; a guide to the medicinal plants used in Mexico to cure ailments before the arrival of the Spaniards.
Hierbitas de saberes is a celebration of and reverence for the plants and flowers found within. The Artist was first captivated by the drawings in the book because unlike other medicinal manuscripts, the illustrations felt more immediate, each plant is crafted with beautifully stylized roots and striking colors. The pigments are magnificent; created by tlacuilos—artists or scribes—they were prepared using vegetable and mineral elements of the time.
In Hierbitas de saberes Blanka wanted to share the joy of the arrival of spring and her love for flowers, specifically the 185 flower illustrations found inside the codex. She and her collaborator—papel picado maestro don Rene Mendoza from Huixcolotla, Puebla — reinterpreted these flowers using the traditional papel picado technique. The exhibit is assembled with a a variety of silk flower petals to create 13 unique flower pieces, indicating the total number of chapters found in the codex.
The Cruz-Badiano codex is considered the oldest medical text crafted in the Americas. It is an invaluable document for humanity. It is Blanka’s hope that with Hierbitas de saberes we reconsider the infinite ways our collective past can continue to nurture and help cure our present. She believes this world is built for healing if it’s built for anything at all. It’s her hope that the flowers included in this installation will help lead the way.
Artist Bio
Blanka Amezkua is an artist formally trained as a painter, a cultural promoter, educator, and project creator based in New York City with exhibitions at MoMA/P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Queens Museum, El Museo del Barrio, the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, San Diego Art Institute, the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, Art Base, Brussels among others. In 2016 she initiated AAA3A (Alexander Avenue Apartment 3A) an alternative artist-run project which offers food, dialogue, workshops, and art in her living room. She's an active member of Running for Ayotzinapa 43, an international community of runners based in NYC that promotes dialogue and consciousness concerning human rights violations worldwide. Mentions of her work and projects can be found in various notable national and international publications.
The Famous Hardware Store
Located at 113 West Emma Avenue, Springdale, Arkansas, Famous Hardware art installations began in 2021 as a way to make art accessible to the Springdale community and create new experiences for people visiting the city’s downtown. Each installation is visible from the sidewalk in front of the Famous Hardware building and are explained in English, Spanish and Marshallese.
Famous Hardware Store curations were a partnership between CACHE and the Downtown Springdale Alliance, with funding support from the Tyson Family Foundation.
Video: Travis Kersh
