The Eldorado festival in Lille, France will now feature Mexican artists, artisans, and writers who will offer a taste of Mexican culture in a city that was named the European Capital of Culture in 2004 .
Bearing the name Lille3000 , the city has since developed multiple festivals and cultural projects with the participation of invited countries and cities.
On this occasion, Lille, in the Hauts-de-France region, will welcome Mexico’s popular art, gastronomy, literature, and cinema in a seven-month program featuring the participation of more than 500 artists from Mexico.
In an interview, Alain Fohr, a festival delegate in Mexico , explained that Lille is very involved in popular festivals and that its people was keen on participating in this sort of event. The festival will be held in around 90 municipalities of the Hauts-de-France region , drawing audiences from France, Belgium, the Netherlands, England , etc.
On April 27 and 28 , there will be a major parade with Mexican Alebrijes , art and photography exhibitions, and workshops for children. Furthermore, the city has invited a music band from Oaxaca, led by César Delgado .
Alain Fohr commented that the parade is meant to pay homage to the Day of the Dead , and it will be similar to the event featured in the film 007: Spectre . There will be 12 giant alebrijes built in Mexican workshops and made out of fiber glass. They will be put on display on an avenue for seven months.
Furthermore, the festival will put 20 “Mexi-skulls” on display in public places.
The festival will also present an exhibition from the Popular Art Museum in Mexico City at the Lille Museum of Natural History and a modern art exhibition at the L’Hospice Comtesse Museum , with works of art masters such as Diego Rivera and Manuel Álvarez Bravo .
The Eldorado festival will also feature an exhibition called “Tlacolulokos: Making Language Visible” and the Folie Wazemmes center will present an exhibition about the U.S.-Mexico border, curated by Ana Elena Mallet, which features the works of 40 contemporary artists on the subject of the border.
Alain Fohr commented that the festival sought to show a different side of Mexico. “This is not just about putting up a flashy show. We want people to understand Mexican culture, from the sacred rituals of the Huicholes to popular and modern art, as well as the subject of migration. People don’t really know Mexico. The press only talks about drug trafficking or tourism at the Mayan Riviera. One of the festival’s goals is to show a positive side of this country and the richness of its culture.”
The Eldorado festival had a budget of around EUR$10 million . The Mexican ministries of Culture and Foreign Affairs will cooperate with some plane tickets for artists.
For the full program, click here .
dm