The following article is an interview of Chicago artist Nati. This interview will be the first in a series where our youth column focuses on young creatives of color. If you or someone you know would like to submit your artwork or writing, comment down below.
Ada: Where are you and your family from?
Nati: My family is from southwest Guanajuato on my dad’s side, and central San Luis Potosí on my mom’s side. My parents both grew up in Chicago, in McKinley Park and Little Village. I was raised around McKinley Park.
Ada: What inspires you the most when creating art?
Nati: Most times, I think it’s probably one of two things, either it’s something I connect to personally, or it’s something I think is cool or funny. It could be an image, a phrase, maybe a scenario or idea. I try not to be picky with sources. Part desire to know my own background, and part my obsession with knowing everything about a topic.
Ada: What made you want to reconnect with your indigenous roots?
Nati: Growing up, I noticed I never saw my own background, Chichimeca, represented whenever native Mexico showed up. Only ever Aztecs and Mayas. When I got older, I decided to find out as much as I could about my ancestors, and from there I decided to learn everything I could about the living cultures that still exist not only in my parents’ region, but across Mexico. I learned why I only ever saw the same two empires across the media — this is part of Mexico’s national narrative, tied into La Raza Cósmica. These now semi-mythological ancestors tend to eclipse people’s real ancestry when they reinforce their Mexicanness in places outside of Mexico. Even inside Mexico, many people believe this story — because it really isn’t relevant enough to most people’s everyday lives to bear much thought beyond the common story. And so an intentional revision of history becomes commonly held thought and for many, a fact, regardless of its veracity. Beyond this, I noticed that lots of the representation I found was not only inconsistent, but felt very superficial upon closer inspection, even when made by a Mexican creator. Turns out that a lot of our commonly held ideas are at least 50 years out of date, if not totally false. Tons of the real, correct information is available online — but is not easy to find, or it is locked behind paywalls and institutions, and really hasn’t ever left the world of academia. So I guess the third reason is defiance or spite, haha. I resent that so many of us don’t actually know our roots because we were and are intentionally misled by the Mexican government’s efforts to create and unify a “mestizo nation.” Ultimately they did succeed, and whatever unity exists, in and of itself isn’t necessarily bad. I do, however, think that it’s important to learn and share the reality of the situation.
Ada: What does reconnecting look like to you?
Nati: Showing up, being present, being quiet and listening, these are all solid steps for reconnection. The next step, in my opinion, I think will be very unpopular. It’s that, if you are a culturally mestizo person, it is very likely that you need to accept that being a mestizo is your reality. Many of us do not have a community to connect to, as we have been thoroughly assimilated into mestizaje. This does not necessarily exclude us from indigeneity, in my opinion — but it’s important to recognize that we are not the same as indigenous people. We do not share the lived experience, nor in many cases the culture, or community. There is nothing inherently wrong with the reality of being a mestizo — it’s just a fact. Yes, the circumstances were horrific, but here we are still. And the reality remains that a lot of time, cultural shifts, and circumstances separate most of us from our indigenous relatives. With that in mind, I do still believe it’s super important to learn whatever you can, and to connect with whomever you can. I think a push within the mestizo community to uplift and really learn about our indigenous roots and relatives can only serve to benefit everyone. I also think that this shift can not happen in a good or real way without mestizo people taking a backseat, and really considering impulses such as attempting to turn a profit off of indigenous aesthetics.
Ada: It’s clear your art is culturally meaningful. What do you hope people take away from your art?
Nati: I hope that people take away an interest in native mexico, and ideally a renewed interest in their own background. I hope that people like myself can take away a renewed pride in their heritage, and a healthy appreciation for our culture, and those around us. I hope most of all that I can help push for Mesoamerica to enter the popular mind in a meaningful, authentic way. My wish is for people to want to know more than the flat narratives and empty iconography we’re fed all-too-often. The reality of Mesoamerican history and culture is incredibly rich and complex, and extends far beyond “Spain vs. Aztecs.”
If you would like to keep up with Nati’s work you can see his website and social media below.
Website: https://xolochi.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nati_6olin/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D and https://www.instagram.com/xolochi_/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D
El Tribuno del Pueblo brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: tribunodelpueblo.org. We’re all volunteers, no paid staff. Please donate at http://tribunodelpueblo.org to keep bringing you the voices of the movement because no human being is illegal.
Hello,
Thank you for this insightfull interview. Great work Nati.
Very interesting interview. As an Anglo, I had my eyes opened to the huge diversity of indigenous backgrounds in the people from Mexico and the rest of Latin America. This has piqued my interest in this subject.