By: Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID)
Mexico will share its deep, rich and diverse culture with the German people during the Dual Year being celebrated by both countries in 2016 and 2017. Mexican culture will be represented by 45 activities in various German cities, demonstrating Mexico’s global importance.
Mexico’s archaeological heritage was on display for the German people as "The Maya—Language of Beauty" exhibit, which included pieces never before displayed in Europe. The exhibit has been open to the public since April 2016 at the Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin and has been seen by over 50,000 visitors. Mexico’s intangible cultural heritage is the subject of the “Voladores,” a photo exhibit that will be presented during the European Month of Photography in October 2016 about the traditional pre-Hispanic dance performed in Veracruz and Puebla [by men spiraling down a pole], which has been named Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
The creativity of contemporary Mexico is represented by artist Debora Delmar at the Berlin Biennale, one of the most important European forums for contemporary art. In addition, Mexico City, seen from various thematic approaches, will be the subject of the exhibit designed by Mexican curators for the Aedes Architecture Forum Berlin that will open in early 2017.
Mexico’s inventive music will be presented in Germany in various ways: classical music will be performed by such outstanding representatives as the soprano Maria Katzarava and conductor Alondra de la Parra, both with German orchestras. Sonex, a group from Veracruz, performed its mix of traditional and innovative music at the Wassermusik festival at the House of World Cultures (HKW) in Berlin. And Bostich+Fussible, from the Nortec Collective of Tijuana, performed at the Fusion Festival in northern Germany. An exhibit entitled "Constellations of the Audio Machine in Mexico"—a historical review of Mexican music that includes pioneers such as Carlos Chávez and Julián Carrillo, as well as contemporary musicians—will be presented at CTM 2017 (Club Transmediale Berlin).
The European Film Market will highlight Mexico at the Berlinale 2017. Mexican movies will also be represented during the Dual Year in cities such as Leipzig, Munich, Dortmund, Cologne and Mannheim. Mexican theatre will be represented at two leading European forums: the Kampnagel in Hamburg and the Kammerspiele in Munich, where contemporary Mexican plays will be performed.
The Frankfurt Book Fair, a prominent event in the publishing world, will have a large Mexican presence and include the presentation of modern authors in German translation. Mexico will also be present at the Leipzig Book Fair and three forums in Berlin: the Poesiefestival, the Latinale and Art Book Fair.
Throughout the Dual Year, Mexican cuisine will be offered at various locales in several German cities. One of the most important venues for promoting our cuisine will be the section dedicated to Mexican products and food in the gourmet department of the flagship department store Kaufhaus des Westens in Berlin (KDW).
All of these events will allow the German and European public to rediscover and confirm the greatness of Mexican culture. Mexico’s presence—from its most traditional to its most contemporary expressions—will be felt in various cities, reaffirming Mexico’s importance as a global actor.
