Demián Flores Cortes (b. 1971, Juchitán, Oaxaxa, Mexico)

 

 

Collective Banners Event, September 21 2006

Benito Juárez crying

La Curtiduria

As noted above, rising pop artist Demián Flores was one of the artists to submit a work to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the birth of Benito Juárez. A very impacting piece, the painting showed the beloved politician crying over the condition of his birth State and home city. In an interview published on 17 October, Flores was asked in depth about his opinion of, and also his, and the arts community's involvement in, the conflict:

How do you feel about Juárez being used as an APPO emblem? Moreover, he has become a social emblem. He is an image of learning for Oaxacans. To paraphrase {Carlos} Monsiváis: he is for our indigenous sector, from where he originated, the culmination and the deferment of possibilities. The perfect image; not only of pride, but also of hope and identification.

http://www.oaxacapolitico.com/v2-articulo2.php?id=1161106799&keysrch=MUPO

ER: What really happened that day when you and other artists went to the zócalo to paint banners for the APPO walking-caravan?

DFC: A small group of artists decided to act backed-up by a press release and a letter addressed to the government where we requested, given the persistent declarations on the part of a governmental social sector, to intervene and resolve the conflict through a military-style intervention or removal of the vigilant sit-in in the zócalo and other places, the barricades etc. that the way out of the conflict always remain through dialogue, peace and tolerance. For this event - which was preceded by the show, La Patria Ilustrada, that united more than sixty artists, writers, collectives at my studio, La Curtiduria - we went to the centre of the city, to centre of our state, to the centre of the conflict, in an act of recuperation of our public spaces and as a gesture of peace and social reconciliation to demand against an armed intervention. The painting was equally directed to the APPO and the Teachers' Union to make dialogue and reason the only routes to a solution ... As far as we know, the banners effectively walked along with marchers as pacifist flags on behalf of a sector of the Oaxacan artistic community.

The event and the communiqué referred to here was reported in national daily newspaper, El Universal, 21 September 2006:

"A group of well-known Oaxacan artists began painting large-format banners in support of the march organised to start this Thursday. Amongst the artists taking part are Demián Flores, Jeronimo López "Doctor Lakra" (son of painter Francisco Toledo), Raúl Herrera, Óscar de las Flores, Adriana Calatayud, Bruno, Varela and Francisco Verástegui. The artists sent a letter to President Fox in which they announce that the conflict "has affected all of us" and therefore they ask "urgently" for the presence of a Union Congress Committee to directly assess the situation."

The resulting action and further details of this effort was relayed to me as part of an e-mail-shot on 22nd September by Demián Flores: "Yesterday morning, a group of artists demonstrated in favour of a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Oaxaca through painting some large-format banners that were then left installed in the passageway of the former government palace. We also delivered a message to the public and sent a letter to president Fox."

--- Flores went on to say: "...I personally take benefit from your interview to reaffirm that I am an independent artist without party nor do I belong to any group or organisation, I am on the side of creative liberty and thought."

I believe that art is an engine for social reconstruction that has been broken and polarised and we hope this space could contribute in some way. La Curtiduria - entablará nuevos diálogos con la comunidad a través de cursos, conferencias, residencias y eventos enfocados al arte contemporáneo.

ER : Why did you decide to participate in APPO and Teachers' Union mobilisations in this way?

DFC : I have never participated in the APPO or Teachers' Union mobilisations. What I do defend to the utmost, is the championing of integrity and for the minimum rights we have as humans, when this is in danger I believe that no-one can escape even if it be only to be conscious of our people's struggle. In the face of violence, threats, declarations and actions in which Oaxacan society has been enveloped I have consistently declared for a peaceful solution and that sticking to our laws the state of Oaxaca in its actuality, the in-governability that we are living, that the demands of the people are heard and that together, all the sectors of society, the present and future of Oaxaca will be constructed. I believe that art is fundamental in this and that it is an extremely important vehicle for social communication.

ER: Later you participated in the camp against the repression. What motivated you?

DFC: I didn't participate directly in the camp against the repression, just in an oblique fashion, if you can call the fact of taking some drawings and a bulletin that we publish at La Curtiduria, La Patria Ilustrada, that unites writers' texts on the Oaxacan problem, to distribute to those present. I believe these actions are fundamental, the organisation of civil society is for me the key to a solution to the conflict and really constructing an exemplary State in Mexico through initiatives and profound changes driven by the people.