Is the corn real or fake?
The corn kernels are real and the work includes a lot of ground corn meal mixed in, too. Behind that surface, the giant disc is fiberglass and it can actually be de-assembled into two pieces.
What is keeping all the corn in this sculpture together? Is it going to rot? And what is the blue material in between the kernels?
This It is stuck together with clear epoxy, which is a strong adhesive.
It may not rot because the amount of fixative and adhesive that was used to keep in place is so much that it cuts down on the amount of oxygen and bacteria getting to the corn (and makes it less edible to pests!). Also, our conservation and collections management teams work hard to keep the sculpture at ideal temperatures and humidity levels to keep the piece preserved.
The blue bits that you see are part of the plastic surface with which the the piece was molded. Because of the delicate nature of the corn sculpture, the artist may not have been able to remove all of the blue plastic from the kernels--it reveals his process!
Is the corn real or fake? And how old is this?
The corn kernels and corn cobs are real. There is a lot of ground corn meal mixed in, too. Behind that surface, the giant disc is fiberglass.
The artist, Fernando Mastrangelo, appropriated one of Mexico’s national symbols, the Aztec Calendar Stone, which dates from about 1500 (so it looks old!), but filled the surrounding areas with contemporary consumer products. He finished this work in 2008, and the Brooklyn Museum acquired it the next year.
Hey there. Is this based on the Mayan calendar?
It has modern items baked into it.
No, the work is based upon the Aztec Calendar Stone. The artist Fernando Mastrangelo appropriates one of Mexico’s national symbols, the Aztec Calendar Stone that symbolizes the creation of the Aztec universe. Retaining the central skeletal face of Tonatiuh, the Sun God, Mastrangelo fills the surrounding areas with contemporary consumer products. Replacing the representation of objects that the Aztecs would use to worship their gods with present-day products that corporations today create based on corn such as corn syrup, cardboard, logos of companies that produce ethanol, Coca-Cola, Brazil and Mexico (3rd-4th largest producers of corn), beer, tortillas, tires, etc.
The piece advances a critical comment on the overproduction of maize by a highly subsidized the agricultural sector in the United States in anticipation of an ethanol boom; corporate proponents of this overproduction keep much of Mexico’s fertile soil ‘parked’ and unavailable to the use of hunger-troubled local populations. It was made with white corn, white and yellow corn meal, epoxy, fiberglass, wood, metal.
How much does "Avarice" weigh?
Great question! "Avarice" weighs in at about 650 pounds, and has a custom steel mount (which it can't be removed from) that weighs an additional 200 pounds. It was constructed of 3 separate parts, so it can be dismantled for shipping and storage.
Why is it called Avarice?
"Avarice" means "extreme greed," and this work, by Fernando Mastrangelo deals with the idea of greed.
The depiction of corn-based products draws attention to Mexico’s mass cultivation of corn to meet energy needs and foreign consumer demands.
Mastrangelo uses one of Mexico’s national symbols, the Aztec Calendar Stone, which dates from about 1500 and symbolizes the creation of the Aztec universe. Unchanged is the Aztec sun god Tonatiuh, who looks out from the stone’s center – his knife-like tongue is stuck out in a representation of his hunger for the human sacrifice. We can infer the image of the implacable imperial force with which the United States achieves its economic agenda in the Americas.
Is this a copy of an Aztec calendar or is it the real thing?
Avarice is a contemporary work of art by the artist Fernando Mastrangelo. He appropriates one of Mexico’s national symbols, the Aztec Calendar Stone, which dates from about 1500 and symbolizes the creation of the Aztec universe. He keeps the traditional central image -- the skeletal face of Tonatiuh, the Sun God -- but then he fills the surrounding areas with present-day consumer products.
What is this made out of?
It's a mix of white corn, corn meal, and epoxy (a type of glue), with fiberglass, wood, and metal at the back to support the structure.
This work also brings up issues of our contemporary, global consumer culture. If you look closely you'll see many familiar objects from our daily lives mixed into the traditional Aztec calendar design.
Corn has a lot of political and environmental weight: it is produced for so many products, including biofuel, pharmaceuticals, drinks, and the production of it is really harsh on the land. If you visit the 4th Floor later, you'll see another contemporary sculpture that uses a common food product, Kara Walker's "African Boy."
What is this?
If you are interested in learning more about this work, I can tell you that Fernando Mastrangelo appropriates one of Mexico’s national symbols, the Aztec Calendar, which dates from about 1500 and symbolizes the creation of the Aztec universe. Retaining the central skeletal face of Tonatiuh, the Sun God.
Replacing the representation of objects that the Aztecs would use to worship their gods, Mastrangelo includes present-day products that corporations today create based on corn such as corn syrup, cardboard, logos of companies that produce ethanol, the flags of Brazil and Mexico (3rd-4th largest producers of corn), beer, tortillas, tires, etc. In this way the artist makes a critical commentary on the overproduction of maize by a highly subsidized agricultural sector in anticipation of an ethanol boom.
Why is there a Brazilian flag in Avarice?
Great question! Brazil is the 3rd largest producer of corn. The artist shows contemporary corn-based products to draw attention to the mass cultivation of corn to meet foreign consumer demands.
It draws attention to the present-day exploitation of local Mexican/Brazilian corn production by North American agricultural businesses.
Got it! Is Coca-Cola corn-based?
Yes, it is. It is mainly high fructose corn syrup!
What is this the topic of this sculpture? Who is the face in the center?
The face in the center is Tonatiuh, the Aztec Sun God. The artist, Fernando Mastrangelo, appropriates one of Mexico’s national symbols, the Aztec Calendar Stone and fills the surrounding areas with contemporary consumer products.
The title of the piece, "Avarice," means "greed," and Mastrangelo is addressing the greed of corporations that has led to Mexico's overproduction of corn to make ethanol for both its own and foreign energy consumption and consumer products.
Tonatiuh sticks out his tongue, showing his hunger for the human sacrifice. In the context of Mastrangelo’s work, this human sacrifice might be interpreted as the contemporary Mexican people.
That's great! I saw similar round sculptures in Mexico. It makes sense that this comes from the old, Aztec tradition. It looks like it is a kind of artistic form of their expression.
Wow, it's really interesting to consider this idea of the sun-disc form that has been around since the Aztec's still holds a place in contemporary art in Mexico. I've never been, thanks for sharing.
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