Mariposas y memorias

Watercolor and gouache with relief embossing

24”x24”

BFK 270gsm

The Aztecs and other indigenous communities believed that the last breath of a dying person was turned into a butterfly. And each year that soul returned in the form of a mariposa to visit their loved ones in the land of the living.

It is believed that human souls did not die, but instead continued to live in Mictlan, a resting place for the souls until the day they could return to visit their relatives.

It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that the universe inherited one more beautiful mariposa on Nov. 21st. Mi paternal abuelita, Ernestina Hernández, took her last breath on Saturday Nov. 21 2021, 3 months and 9 days after Abuelito Moisés took his. She was 94 and he was 97. They were together for over 70+ years and were surrounded by many loving people including their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and more. They were the kindest, most loving and compassionate human beings that I have ever known.

Though, they may no longer be here today to tell their stories under the lima trees, or to milk their chivas to make that scrumptious queso, or to dance to their favorite songs—— their stories and memories are very much still alive in me, my siblings, my father, my relatives, and everyone else who had them present in their lives.

Mariposas y Memorias is a piece about memories—stark ones, vivid ones, lucid, faint, iridescent and even vanishing, forgotten and non-existent memories. I created this piece to mourn, to remember, to honor and to celebrate the lives, and the memories that I hold close to my heart about these two beautiful humans.

With that said, descansen en paraíso, mis mariposas hermosas. Gracias por su amor y enseñanzas. Siempre van a estar en nuestros corazones. 🦋