Popular Art Struggles to Survive Against Mass-Produced Mexican Souvenirs Agencia EFE
go to original December 23, 2013

The Museo de Arte Popular, a stellar introduction to folk art from all over Mexico, in the Centro Historico. (Christine Delsol/The Chronicle)

MEXICO CITY - Threatened by the industry of mass-produced souvenirs and the loss of traditions, Mexican popular art is stubbornly holding on to existence thanks to institutions that support this activity and artisans who practice and even make a living from it.

The Museum of Popular Art, or MAP, was founded seven years ago with the goal of highlighting the diversity of crafts in Mexico and bringing the artisans out of obscurity, the museum's director, Walther Boelsterly, told Efe.

"We see popular art in Mexico as anonymous. We're trying to bring out of the shadows those families, those artisans that have worked for years at certain crafts and whom no one actually sees as people," Boelsterly said.

Among the factors that have led to the retreat of popular art is the souvenir industry, since tourists tend to buy mass-produced objects that remind them of their visit to somewhere in the country.

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