Learn about the celebration of the cultural heritage of the Indigenous Chontal people, both at the British Museum and in their community of San Pedro Huamelula on the Mexican Pacific coast.

Maskmaker Medardo Gutiérrez and historian Jaime Zarate Escamilla analysing a 3D scan of a mask that is part of the British Museum collection. Photo: Dr. Danny Zborover.

The Santo Domingo Centre of Excellence for Latin American Research (SDCELAR) proudly hosted Between Wood and Words: Masked Legacies of a Mexican Chontal Community. This event celebrated the remarkable cultural heritage of the Indigenous Chontal people, both at the British Museum and in their community of San Pedro Huamelula on the Mexican Pacific coast. Chontal historian and author Jaime Zárate Escamilla and mask-maker Medardo Gutiérrez García reflected on their experience working with the Museum’s historical mask collection, particularly how this relates to contemporary festivities, community museums, and long-term historical processes that transformed their community, the UK, and the world.

Maskmaker Medardo Gutiérrez, historian Jaime Zarate Escamilla, Dr. Danny Zborover and Pamela Olea at the event Between Wood and Words: Masked Legacies of a Mexican Chontal Community celebrated at the British Museum. Photo: Santiago Valencia Parra. 

You can access the recording of the talk here.