Amor al arte: A Vibrant Exhibition of Central American Culture

As a way of expressing his Central American identity and culture, Nicaraguan singer-songwriter Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy will present his exhibition Amor al arte; a collection of symbolic and colorful works.

In this exhibition, Mejía reflects aspects of the Mayan, Nahua and Chorotega indigenous roots, through varied canvases such as paintings, masks and guitars.

Amor al arte is available at the Sendero cultural center, in Barrio Escalante, until September 30. That same day, the artist will present a small concert, while reading fractions of his stories and poems.

“It is a way for people to feel in a comprehensive environment that brings them closer to art and culture. That’s what I’m trying to say, that the love of art is what has led me to write songs and poetry, to make music, to sing and of course to draw,” she commented.

At 78 years old, Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy will exhibit elements of his Mesoamerican identity. (Courtesy Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy)

The sample in detail

Mejía uses striking and colorful figures throughout his works, such as flower decorations, jaguars, moons, volcanoes, and profiles of people. Additionally, his swatch techniques vary, as he uses acrylics, watercolors, or markers.

“There are aspects that are subliminal languages, which I don’t really like to explain, but I do like people to discover them. For example, a volcano in permanent eruption is not a negative thing, of death or tragedy, but rather it can be an eruption of culture of miscegenation and colors,” said the painter.

According to him, his connection with the artistic world began 20 years ago, when he began to draw due to a small illness that did not allow him to sing and go on stage for a time.

Before that, he had already dabbled in poetry and literature, so he now considers that each facet allows him to handle multidisciplinary creative work.

“Along the way I began to experiment and became interested in painting the tops or bodies of guitars with the same themes as my drawings and paintings. I have also used masks that belong to the traditions of the güeguense or the aguizote of Nicaragua,” added the artist about his repertoire.

For his Love of Art exhibition, the musician seeks to reflect the pride he maintains in being Nicaraguan, while at the same time raising his feelings for Costa Rica, a country he considers his second homeland.

Amor al arte is the second exhibition of the artist, who is also recognized for his musical career, marked by hits such as Pobre la María, A giant that awakens and Allá va el general.

During the closing event of the exhibition, a song that bears the same name as the exhibition will be premiered. The song has strong lyrics about his artistic experience. Below is a stanza of the composition:

For the love of art I risked my voice

looking for reasons in each song

And I don’t regret so much madness

because I discovered the other side of the moon

And in that galaxy of utopias

I drew a star in every smile

To participate in the closing of the exhibition, you must reserve your ticket and send a text message to 8880-8657. Event space is limited.

All of the Nicaraguan artist’s works in ‘Amor por el arte’ can be purchased. (‘Love of art’ catalogue)

Nicaraguan exile

Mejía has lived in Costa Rica for 5 years, after leaving Nicaragua in exile in 2018, due to the sociopolitical context of the country.

“They didn’t let me perform in Nicaragua because my songs, directly or indirectly, talk about freedom. They talk about peace, the need for democracy and of course against the dictatorship of this moment; a government that hardened until it became authoritarian, then a dictatorship, a tyranny and now almost a dynasty,” the artist once commented.

2023-09-26 00:52:06
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