Themes of magic, healing and interconnectedness encompass the next exhibition at Terrain outdoor gallery in Oak Cliff.
Mylan Nguyen opens Nahualito Oct. 2.
Nguyen “creates cute and playful characters in her work,” which include ceramics, illustration, printmaking and installation, according to a media release: “Nahualito continues her exploration of these themes and draws on her multicultural heritage to revisit and reclaim the history of the Nahual.”
She learned as a child about Nahual, the shapeshifting guardian spirits of Mesoamerican lore, from her maternal grandmother and aunts. The Dallas-based artist found further inspiration in the Museum of Natural Anthropology, documentaries and the writings of Carlos Castaneda.
“Her research for this project calls to question how perspective, power structures, and colonialism affect narratives of history and folklore.”
The ambiguity of the Nahuales in form and identity is captured in Mylan’s installation. Placed throughout the Terrain site, each Nahual is meant to emulate cuteness and draw the viewer in to further explore what she understands as their true nature. Each Nahual sculpture ranging in many sizes is considered by the artist to be an amulet, talisman, or altar incorporating stories and symbols meant to provide healing, transformation, and laughter.
Nguyen studied ceramics in Japan and is pursuing a master’s of fine arts at SMU. She is the co-founder of an Oak Cliff-based artists collective called Brujita Workshop.
The exhibit at 1122 Elmdale Place runs through Nov. 15. Viewing hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Sunday.
