Textile Museum of Canada Presents Groundbreaking Maya Exhibition Unique Curatorial Approach Unveils Maya Art Through Indigenous Lens
Posted: Sep 23rd, 2024 | Exhibitions

The Textile Museum of Canada will debut Beyond the Vanishing Maya: Voices of a Land in Resistance, an unprecedented exhibition curated by Maya curator and ajq’iij (spiritual leader) Diego Ventura Puac-Coyoy

DATE: October 17, 2024

LOCATION: The Textile Museum of Canada, 55 Centre Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2H5

This first-of-its-kind exhibition in Canada marks a powerful shift in museology by anchoring its curatorship in Maya culture, language and identity as well as spirituality and ritual. The curatorial process has been one of deep collaboration between the Textile Museum’s Artistic Director and Chief Curator Armando Perla and Maya Curator Diego Ventura Puac-Coyoy, who worked extensively together to foster collaboration with Indigenous communities in Canada and Guatemala and consult with community elders – something that is reflected in the exhibition’s political and spiritual depth.

“This is a historical exhibition and a first step for the Museum to become a door for IBPOC curators, artists and community members with direct ties to our collection to show their work,” says Armando Perla. “It allows them to decide how to care for and display their belongings while also telling their stories in their own terms,” they added.

Beyond the Vanishing Maya not only presents Maya culture through an Indigenous lens but challenges institutions to rethink their collections and colonial hierarchies imposed by European art history. This exceptional curatorial process has also shone a light on the Textile Museum’s own collection, highlighting the need for the community to lead the conversation around the long-term care and return of their belongings.

The exhibition features artworks by Maya artists both within and outside the Ventura Puac-Coyoy Collection, placing them in dialogue with textile, painting, ceramic, sculpture, poetry, music, fashion and other art forms. Visitors to Beyond the Vanishing Maya will experience a powerful representation of Maya art never before seen on Turtle Island — challenging the way we view art in museums and inspiring everyone to shift their perspectives on representations of Maya art.

The opening procession for Beyond the Vanishing Maya will start at the Gardiner Museum at 5:30PM on October 17, 2024, leading to the Textile Museum for a reception. Press are invited to capture this unique moment, with opportunities for interviews and footage throughout the day of the opening. Ventura Puac-Coyoy and Perla are also available for interviews ahead of and after the opening on October 17.