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Mexico's Day of the Dead festival blends Catholic rituals with
the pre-Hispanic belief that the dead return once a year from
the underworld, and seeks to celebrate the continuity of life.
Traditionally, Mexicans build Day of the Dead altars in their
homes and outside, where they place pictures of the dead and
items they enjoyed in life.
In Kahlo's "Blue House," which is now a museum, organizers put
together an offering titled "The Restored Table: Memory and
Reencounter," in collaboration with Gaultier, who was a huge fan
of the iconic Mexican artist. The offering included pictures of
famed artists who died in previous pandemics, including Italian
painter Tiziano, who passed away in 1576 when the plague ravaged
Venice, and Austria's Gustav Klimt, who died from the Spanish
flu in 1918.
"It's an interesting experience," said Mariyah Efimova, a
Russian tourist in the Mexican capital.
The offering included an homage to Mexican artist Manuel
Felguérez, who died from COVID-19, and marigolds, known in
Mexico as "the flower of the dead" for a scent believed to be
strong and sweet enough to attract souls and draw them back.
Edna Romero, a mask-wearing visitor, said it was important for
her family to learn about Kahlo and Mexican traditions such as
Day of the Dead despite the tough times during the coronavirus
pandemic.
"It's very interesting and very cool," said Romero. "I hope it
will be a respite."
(Reporting by Alberto Fajardo; Writing by Drazen Jorgic; Editing
by Leslie Adler)
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