Xul Solar
Xul Solar (Argentinean artist, 1888-1963)
Xul Solar was very interested in spiritualism, symbolism, and alchemy. He was a member of Theosophy which inspired him to use many symbols in his art works and influenced him to seek for a level of life which is no longer build by materials but spirituality. In his life time, he created his own Tarot card, symbols, game, and language. Even his name, Xul Solar, is created by himself which means solar light.
In the early works of Xul Solar, he often used strong contrast of color to paint. Most subjects he painted were metaphysical related. Art work such as “Funeral, 1914” reflected his interest in religious ceremony. Later years when Solar was creating art in Paris, he started to focus on how to bring out his identity as a Latin American. At the same time, his style of painting became more geometric due to cubism. To continue his interest in spiritualism, Solar started to collect Aztec Codices. He then created art associated with Goddess of Aztec mythology. “Aztec God of Rain, 1923” and “Nana Watzin, 1923” were two of the works he made inspired by the myth from Aztec. Despite the goddess in his paintings, there were also many texts which were all language invented by himself. Solar had started to build his own empire. One of Solar’s most famous work “Dragon, 1927” presented the perfect image of his success of the world he had established. This is a portrait of himself riding on the dragon to lead the community of Latin America. It symbolizes a celebration of the triumph of all Latin American artists that they have found their own way to present their identities. Xul Solar has not only brought the Aztec mythology to a broader stage but also he contracted his own universe to present to the world.
Aztec empire was established by Mexica who ruled the northen Mesoamerica for hundreds of years until the Spanish came and conquered them. In Aztec mythology, Mexica created hundreds of gods and goddesses which focus on how the Gods, human, and nature are connected together. The link below introduced ten Aztec Gods and Goddesses which included Talaloc, Aztec God of Rain.
"The 10 Most Important Aztec Gods and Goddesses"
https://www.thoughtco.com/deities-of-mexica-mythology-170042