Revolution on Paper: Mexican fiesta day!

This event celebrates the Revolution on paper: Mexican prints 1910 -1960 exhibition showing at Hatton Gallery which is on show from 23 June - 14 August.

This exhibition is supported by The Monument Trust.

In 1910 Mexico was convulsed by the world’s first social revolution – which led to the victorious left-wing government utilising art as the voice of the uprising to connect with the people.

This language of imagery was used to educate the population about their history and emerging culture, promoting the values of the revolution to all people regardless of education. This led to a pioneering programme to cover the walls of public buildings with vast murals, and later to setting up print workshops to produce works for mass distribution and education.

The prints in this exhibition come from the British Museum’s collection which has been acquired thanks to the generosity of the Aldama Foundation, Dave and Reba Williams and The Art Fund. Some of the finest of these prints were produced by the three great men of Mexican art of the period known as ‘los tres grandes’: Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros.

11.00am - 1.00 pm: Mexican-themed fun for families, all ages welcome!
1:30pm - 4.00 pm: Mexican fiesta with informal tours of the exhibition (including a tour for learners of Spanish), Mexican food, music and hands-on craft activities, Spanish language taster sessions (led by students from Newcastle University School of Modern Languages/Routes into Languages North East).
This day of Mexican fun will be followed by a special event at the Star and Shadow Cinema featuring Revolución and a Funky Butt Club retro-latino party!
On Wednesday 29th, come back to the Hatton Gallery for a talk on the historical context behind the prints shown.

Images credits:
 Diego Rivera, Emiliano Zapata and his horse, 1932,
Angel Bracho, ¡Victoria!, 1945,
Leopoldo Méndez, Río Escondido, 9. Antorchas, 1948, woodcut,
David Alfaro Siqueiros, Black Woman, 1935-36, lithography,
 Diego Rivera, Nude with Beads (Frida Kahlo), 1930
 Francisco Dosamantes, Dead Soldier, 1940
 José Chávez Morado, The laughter of the people – away with your nonsense, 1939

Presentation of this exhibition by Mark McDonald, British Museum curator in the video.