Iyaxel Cojtí Ren, assistant professor of archaeology, University of Texas, Austin
For the ancient and contemporary Maya peoples, everything that exists on earth has life, has spiritual essence, and fulfills a function. In the worldview of Indigenous Peoples, living beings not only include humans but elements ranging from a stone to the sun. In the Maya iconography of the Classic period (AD 250–900), mountains and stones are shown with faces, while numbers and periods of time are depicted as human beings with bodies and particular characteristics, demonstrating the transcendence of this worldview through time and space. For the Maya, it is necessary to acknowledge the living and sacred nature of the elements that surround us to maintain a harmonic balance and coexistence among all beings that live on earth.
Evening lectures by distinguished guest speakers address a range of topics relating to the appreciation and interpretation of art. They are free and open to the public.
