At the heart of the Día de Muertos is remembrance.
The holiday, originating in Mexico and celebrated in communities across the world, invites people to pay tribute to loved ones who have died. Special altars called ofrendas give people a chance to say goodbye.
But in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic that killed more than 1.1 million people in the United States, those goodbyes have come in a tidal wave of grief. Artist Fernando Lozano wanted to single out those lost to the virus in a meaningful way.
“During COVID-19, there were a lot of people who died in their beds, by themselves, and that is very sad,” he said. “This is something we want to remember; we’ll remember this forever.”
Lozano’s art installation “We Remembers/Nosotros Recordamos” aims to honors everyone who lost their lives to COVID-19 in the United States. The exhibition is now open at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis and runs through Nov. 19.
The Vincennes-based artist has created ofrendas representing all 50 states, which display testimonials from people who lost loved ones to the pandemic. The goal was to capture how, though people have been isolated, they have experienced the events of the past several years together, he said.
“(Día de Muertos) is an amazing tradition to honor the people who have given you the opportunity to be living,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for us to honor the ones who passed away now from COVID-19.”
Día de Muertos has been an important part of Lozano’s life since he was a child. Born and raised in Mexico City, the holiday was an important part of his family’s yearly celebrations.
The significance has maintained as he’s grown older, finding its way into his artwork.
“Día de Muertos is a celebration of inviting your dead relatives who have passed away, inviting them to have a dinner with you,” he said. “That’s the reason we do ofrendas — we put food, we put drinks on the table so they can come and enjoy a meal with us. At the same time, it’s a time to say goodbye to someone who has been with you all your life and now they’re no longer with you.”
Lozano’s art pulls from a variety of media, using painting, prose and graphics to give his work deep layers of meaning. Much of the focus is on injustices, conflicts, tragedies and other profound events he has experienced throughout his life.
“We Remember/Nosotros Recordamos” carries on that progression.
“During the past several years, the country, and the world, has faced a devastating pandemic. We have witnessed the suffering of millions of people. At the same time, the danger of contracting COVID-19 has kept us isolated from our loved ones and made it difficult to be there when they have succumbed to this illness,” he said in his artist statement.
To create the exhibition, Lozano made ofrendas on representing every U.S. state. Each altar has an accompanying number — representing how many people in each state have died from COVID-19.
The ofrendas are decorated in a style called “papel picado,” using colorful perforated paper in traditional Mexican designs. Each one will have sugar skull — a candy skull common at Día de Muertos — and a candle.
Lozano also pays tribute to a famed Mexican artist from the early 20th century, Jose Guadalupe Posada.
“He used to make fun of people, using cartoons with skeletons,” he said.
The opening of “We Remember/Nosotros Recordamos” coincides with a number of Día de Muertos events and art displays planned at the Eiteljorg.
Starting on Oct. 10, the museum opened its annual Community Art and Ofrenda Exhibit, a display conceived and curated by Arte Mexicano en Indiana and Nopal Culture, two organizations aimed at Latino arts.
Each altar has been designed and installed by a local artist or organizations, such as Consulado de Mexico en Indianapolis, Mujeres Conectadas en Indy and Metzli Cultural to honor deceased loved ones, celebrities, community members and others.
Museum guests are able to contribute their own notes and photos to a community ofrenda, and kits are available to purchase and take home to make your own mini-ofrenda.
On Saturday, the museum will also host its Día de Muertos community celebration. The festival will feature performances, vendors, art and more. People can snack on the traditional pan de muerto, or bread of the dead, and shop at the artisan marketplace.
IF YOU GO
”We Remember/Nosotros Recordamos”
What: An art exhibition by Vincennes-based artist Fernando Lozano which features Día de Muertos-themed altars honoring victims of COVID-19 in all 50 states
Where: Eiteljorg Museum, 500 W. Washington St., Indianapolis
When: Through Nov. 19
Other Día de Muertos events:
Oct. 21: Día de Muertos community celebration, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., guests can shop from local vendors at the mercado (marketplace), meet artists, create art, and see performances by local and regional acts. Free admission.
Through Nov. 2: Community Art and Ofrenda Exhibit, ofrendas, or altar, designed by a local artist or group to honor deceased loved ones, celebrities, community members and others who have left their mark on the world. Free with museum admission.
Information: Eiteljorg.org
