MEXTONIA FESTIVAL
The International Transgraffiti muralism festival Mextonia was held in Tallinn, uniting 60 voluntary street artists from Estonia, Mexico and around the world for presenting an unique gift to the Estonian Republic’s 100th anniversary. Artists painted 50 murals and a total of 6,000 m2 with symbols of deep Estonian culture, to celebrate Estonian identity and freedom. Organizing and producing of Mextonia is a true gift by Mexican organization Nueve Arte Urbano with joint efforts of Estonians. “While gifting Estonia, we have gifted ourselves, México and the World.” Says Édgar Sánchez, the Mexican co-creator of Mextonia.
“Mextonia was born from a personal „vision quest“, I was pointed in the direction of Mesoamerican native wisdom and I met Édgar Sánchez in Mexico, he introduced me to the ancient tradition of the Mexican Huichol tribe, „the hunt of the blue deer“, through which I discovered the importance of reconnecting to my own deep roots and rescuing my cultural traditions back in Estonia.” tells Sigre Tompel, the Estonian co-creator of Mextonia.
In return, Édgar Sánchez, travelled to Estonia and discovered the magic of the indigenous Estonian culture. These mutual discoveries found a powerful channel of expression thanks to a rare system of temporary circumstances: the first centennial of the Estonian Republic, the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU and the entrance to adulthood of the Estonian generation of the Millennials. Empowered by the opening of Estonia to the world, this demographic group is the first one raised with internet, graffiti and post-Soviet society, factors that anticipate a very special generational transition to the future.
After these experiences Édgar and Sigre decided to create a mural festival. With so many things happening in Estonia they saw the opportunity
to invite people to stop and contemplate, what Mextonia is talking about and give value to ancient cultural „technologies“.
Transgraffiti has a great value to restore the original knowledge of ancient cultures and give contemporary meaning to it, as a movement, transgrafiti has been inspired by the work of the great mexican muralist generation from the XX century specially the “Appeal to Plastic Artists in Argentina” (for download here) By David Alfaro Siqueiros, published by Diario Crítica on 1933.
We believe that graffiti has proven its power to change society by questioning the system. Muralism and Street Art have proven to transform cultural symbols and catalyze culture. Now, Transgraffiti is a trans-personal kind of muralism, which distances itself from both; names and pop, by taking deep cultural symbols and re-expressing them in a transcendental and contemporary way. We create meaning to promote unity-within-cultural freedom.
The festival has been organized in partnership with local organizations and other contributors such as the Government Office of Estonia 100, Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia, Stencibility, Pirados, JJ-Street Baltic Sessions and the cultural academician Marju Kõivupuu from the University of Tallinn as well as international organizations such as Pangeaseed Foundation.
The project has mainly been funded by the small Mexican company Incusa SA de CV, which, on the 7th of June, gained a high level Mexican nation-wide award for sustainability and responsibility in business.
