Immersia 2023: Illustration-Translation of Mexican Indigenous Poetry to Mandarin by Gabriel Covarrubias: Exhibition and Artist Talk

Renowned Mexican artist Gabriel Nezahualpilli Covarrubias Hernandez intersects Nahua poetry with traditional Chinese calligraphy.

In his presentation Gabriel will take the audience through the origins and development of this project, his experiences as a transcultural student, and cross cultural art and communication.

EXHIBIT: 15 September to 21 September

ARTIST TALK: 21 September @ 3:30pm

This event is part of IMMERSIA 2023, a flagship festival hosted by the ANU School of Culture, History & Language (CHL) and supported by the ANU Latin America Week hosted by the ANU Latin American Students Association (LASA).

BACKGROUND

This project was inspired by four poems from the book "La Lengua de los Pájaros" (The Song of Birds)《鸟之歌》from the author Juan Hernandez Ramírez, with the help and supervision of Professor Dang Rui from Shaanxi Normal University, developed in the Faculty of Fine Arts in 2019 as its first edition.

Translated to Chinese Mandarin with the help of Professor Dang Rui, and written in Chinese calligraphy regular script 楷书. This project includes four languages; English, Spanish, Nahuatl and Chinese Mandarin.

Calligraphy, illustration and book design by Gabriel Nezahualpilli Covarrubias Hernandez. Developed as a graduation project for the Master's Degree at Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China, 2019.

Juan Hernández Ramírez is a renowned Nahua poet from the community of Colatlán in the municipality of Ixhuatlán de Madero, Veracruz, Mexico. His life in the Huasteca has had an indelible impression on his poetry. He identifies this founding experience as key in his literature and deep respect for the earth. Hernández Ramírez was awarded the Premio Nezahualcoyotl for his book of poetry Chikome Xochitl in 2006. In 2008 he received the continental prize Canto de América for Tlatlatoktetl (Stone on fire). He has published five books of poetry and has numerous forthcoming publications.

BIOGRAPHY:

Gabriel Nezahualpilli Covarrubias Hernandez is a Sydney based visual artist and graphic designer. Living and working in the surrounds of Bondi Beach. Sydney. Originally from Mexico city, he came to Australia in 2019 and has been living since then in the eastern suburbs of Sydney where he has been inspired by the wanderings of coastal walks and national parks.

Having obtained a Bachelor of Graphic Design from the University of Technology of Mexico, Gabriel worked in corporate design before starting his adventure in Asia, where he lived for four years pursuing a Master's degree from the Shaanxi Normal University in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. He has devoted himself to his art practice which encompasses painting and drawing.

Gabriel's paintings are greatly inspired by the time he spent learning calligraphy and Chinese traditional painting, his uses maobi brush to express feelings, stories, light, shapes and rhythms.

Hosted by the ANU School of Culture, History & Language at IMMERSIA 2023; supported by Clandestino Canberra and ANU Latin American Week