Humongous thank you’s to Maria from Tropical Flowering Zone for submitting this fab mural.
“Having multiple meanings, it could be about the past lives of Spanish and African American Heritage influences on the island. If you notice the mural is signed by two figures from the past who according to the mural have died.”
“The mural is open to multiple interpretations but seems to emphasize on the colonial influences of the past. There is a white man sinking in the water, but there is also an African American man who is heading towards the water also. The wooden branches tied together seem to represent part of the Spanish colonial vessels who traveled west to colonize the islands of the Caribbean and brought both the Spanish and African culture, symbolized by the multiple shells which can also suggest the presence of the Caribbean Taino Indians already inhabiting the island”
“The white man is portrayed as sinking in the water, yet the African American sinks also”
“Hands also seem to represent the acceptance of fate, although, as said earlier, this is open to interpretation”.
“Flowers can symbolize the aspect of transition and transmission of culture, since they carry seeds which could germinate in distant places, and spread cultural influences, if that were to be the interpretation”.
“This has been one of the most surreal murals I have ever seen seen. However, its symbolism seems to highly relevant to the Puerto Rican people and its cultural heritage.”
“Shells and flowers may have multiple meanings”.
Pics taken by Maria I Firpi Mazur – 2016
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Not only did Maria send us these amazing photos, but she penned the words! I am very grateful.
THANK YOU MARIA!
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