Infinitas Gracias: Contemporary Mexican Votive Painting

by Alfredo Vilchis Roque, Pierre Schwartz, Victoire and Herve Di Rosa (Foreword)

Infinitas Gracias is the first collection of the work of Alfredo Vilchis Roque, one of Mexico's most famous contemporary painters, and his sons. In the tradition of Catholic votives, each painting tells a miraculous tale and gives thanks to the intervening saint. Ablaze with intense color hearkening back to the natural pigment dyes of ancient Mexico, these works portray the kaleidoscope of issues that constitute modern urban existence. With over 200 paintings, from circus adventures to household accidents to adultery, drugs, and prostitution, Infinitas Gracias weaves together a bizarre tapestry of stories, some disturbing, some comical -- all unerringly wrought and profoundly touching.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2004

Reviews

[Cynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first learned of votives, I said, "Oh! You mean body parts!" More correctly, a votive left by the working-class people here are representations of that which is healed/resolved. I have seen votive feet, votive hearts. Perhaps anyone who has grown up Catholoc, at least in the American Southwest, is familiar with votive candles. Votives are part of popular culture in the American Southwest and in Mexico.
Alfredo Vilchis Roque paints votive retablas. (I wonder if the word "retablas" is related to the word "tabula" as in "tabula rasa".) Anyway, Roque started small, using cast-off items to make his first retablas. He says that he started by using those blue blocks that are used in pool halls. Now he often intentionally uses paints in colors resembling the traditional darker, cloudier colors. His art he has developed by studying the paintings of Diego Rivera and Friday Kahlo. Roque adores Friday Kahlo. He has reason :-)
Like the best retablas, Roque shows the close relationship between deities and humans. Often the deities are not deities approved by the Catholic Church--Mexico is a Catholic country--but which the populace often finds kind, loving, supportive, and powerful deities. People who pray to a guardian angel, to San Rafael, or to La Virgin de---- and get their hearts' desire wish to express their gratitude through a retabla.
To go further than the writers of the foreword--Victoria and Hervey di Rosa--the relationship of diety and person seem almost pagan. I honor the Goddess and love Earth, so I am speaking with respect. A person who has come through a difficulty might commission a retabla. In the retabla, the deity is depicted, usually in the corner, overlooking the lover of the deity. Then the situation aided is shown. Usual situations depicted include sexual relation problems or health problems or drug addiction problems, and resolutions. The retablas are meant to be anearing expression of love and devotion. Beautiful.

[Laura]

I love Mexican folk art.

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY SHIT, this is one of my prized possessions. I wish I could see one in real life! Roque paints retablos - commissioned votive paintings to commemorate memories and events such as births, deaths, relationships, spiritual awakenings, et cetera. Retablos are a long-standing folk art tradition in Mexico, but Roque's uniquely bizarre paintings that often deal with unconventional subject matter (homosexuality, infidelity, gang violence) have earned him special merit among other retableros. The book is loaded with full-panel color pages of his paintings and include translations in English.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously cool book of devotional paintings that really drove my interests in whole new directions. Humorous, sad, emotional; these are really too cliche to capture what this book stores. Each painting is one person's hope and fear bottled and truly there is no art book I've seen that has been so affecting.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This type of picture book is one of my favorite genres of books, and reminds me why I love books so much. Combining pictures and words, the book is able to access my heart, my mind, and my soul for a learning experience that is artistic, spiritual, and brutal all at the same time. What better way to confront human weakness and vulnerability than through the lens of votive paintings?

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief, yet amazing personal stories of tragedy and triumph summed up in traditional Mexican votive paintings giving thanks to the Virgen De Guadalupe. The stories run the gamut from AIDS to alcoholism, crime to transvestites.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Right on for getting the gang out of that glue-sniffing shit. Now they got it right: zero drugs. To the Archangel of Justice: knock, knock, just letting you know. Barrio Santa Fe, Mexico."

[Kandace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of retablos organized by themes with English translations. The foreword by Victoire and Hervé Di Rosa note of the humble art form, “rejected by a secular state that frowns on this demonstration of popular devotion, by a Church that mistrusts it, by an art world that does not acknowledge it as a contemporary creation, the votive is welcome nowhere” (16). A true borderlands form of art making blending the everyday with miracles and gratitude to the santos for protection, guidance, and support. Dreaming of my retablo stories I would thank la virgencita for after seeing the beautiful work of Alfredo Vilchis Roque and crew.

[Marisa Fulper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing work

[Darrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a cheat as it is mostly pictures....sort of an art brut book - it is a collection of votive paintings by present day Mexican Catholics with translated anecdotal commentary

[Teresa]

Lovely