Museum of Popular Art

Where: Museum of Popular Art, Valle de Bravo, State of Mexico
When: 4 June 2023

I was very pleasantly surprised by the artisanal works in this museum's permanent collection, which is the only collection they have. I must confess that I have never been, and still not am, a fan of artisanal works. Most of what you find on the streets (or in "artisans' markets") are not of quality, yet everyone I know love and adore them as if they were actual works of art. Well, the artisanal works in this museum were actual works of art. I was most impressed by the vases, and by the Árboles de la vida (Trees of Life). And yes, it did made me appreciate Mexican culture in a way that I wish could be more present in everyday life. Yet, producing the kind of artisanal work that is displayed in this museum must be very expensive, which is contrary to the manufacturing means of an everyday person in Mexican society. In that way, the objects in display in the Museum of Popular Art are not actually popular art, they are works of art that are reserved only for the ateliers with more means.
  I am grateful to the anonymous owner who opened and mantains this museum free for all. Even that is an extraordinary display of wealth.