Sonora: Magic Market. Mexico City by Kurt Hollander

by Kurt Hollander

Known locally as the "witchcraft market," the Sonora Market in Mexico City undoubtedly has the cure for what ails you. According to pilotguides.com, Sonora has "rattlesnake skins, desiccated hummingbirds and dried fox skins as well as the live articles like iguanas, frogs and squirrels..." It houses what is arguably the highest concentration of shamans, santeros, voodoo and natural remedies in the world. Stalls are flooded with a seemingly infinite variety of powders, sprays, soaps and incense that claim, through bright colors and delightfully kitschy illustrations, to help one find a job, money or love, to ward off evil spells or help children do well in school. Though much of the appeal of this volume comes from the numerous reproductions detailing the pop aesthetic that has been developed to advertise these aids, a look at the instructions and prayers that accompany the products reveals a darker world of extreme economic, spiritual and sexual suffering. The book contextualizes these advertisements within a culture where magical thinking offers hope to those in desperate search of a panacea. Editor and writer Kurt Hollander is originally from New York City, and has been living in Mexico City since 1989. He writes for "The Guardian" and "The New York Times." He is also the author of "El Super" (2006), a visual study of Mexican consumer products.

Hardcover

First published November 1, 2008

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a "wacky packages" book, looking at the graphic design of various salts, sprays and soaps from the Sonora market it Mexico City. While these are interesting, there is no real exploration of the market itself except through a brief essay and a few photographs. In all, somewhat disappointing.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sonora:

1CWhatever your special needs or wants, whatever your particular perversion or pleasure, whether you want to dominate to be dominated, whether you want to screw or screw over, don 19t worry, there 19s a special magic product on sale in the Sonora Market in Mexico City designed to make your dreams come true.. 1D
Can 19t beat that. Today I go downtown Mexicali to look for the infamous and very interesting Pull-Pull powder that I read about in this book. Here 19s what you do: You run a needle through the name of the person you want so badly written on a scrap of paper and a piece of her clothing and then wrap the string around a rock covered in cinnamon and a magnet. Drop the whole thing in a glass of red wine mixed with the Pull-Pull Powder 26.
And wait. Luck is all about preparation. Right?
I dig this book. It takes you into a very distant world that is not that far away for a lot of people.

[Judi · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was 12 pages of text in English and the same in Spanish. This was followed by illustrations of, what I am assuming were the labels/packaging of related items. I say assuming because there wasn't anything listed about the illustrations. Disappointing..but the cover gave me an idea about a tattoo I would like to have.