AURELIO DIAZ TEKPANKALLIIn the Library: "LIBERACIÓN A TRAVÉS DEL CONOCIMIENTO" (LIBERATION THROUGH KNOWLEDGE)—oil on canvas. (3rd floor, central)
This mural celebrating the multicultural heritage of CU-Colorado Springs was unveiled September 16, 1986, on the upper patio near the Gallery for Contemporary Art at the University. It was painted by Mexican artist, Aurelio Diaz Tekpankalli and is entitled "Liberation Through Knowledge".
Tekpankalli is a Purepecha Indian from Michoacan, Mexico, where he was born August 4, 1954. Most of his work is in Chicago and Mexico City, but his murals have also appeared in National Geographic and Américas Magazine. "Liberación a Través del Conocimiento" was painted in one of the portable art buildings near the Campus Services Building, mostly during the summer of 1986.
The mural, commissioned by CU-Colorado Springs, was funded by a $2250 grant from the facilities fund. The idea for the mural was originally proposed by Mike Sánchez, long-time director of the Counseling Center, (now retired). The artist, Tekpankalli, was married to a former CU-CS student, Virginia Alvarado (deceased), who told Mr. Sánchez about her husband’s idea for the mural. A mural committee was formed consisting of Dr. Julia Hoerner, Dr. Jay Coakley, Dr. Rubén Martínez, Mike Sánchez, Margaret Morimitsu, Raphael Rodrigues and several students.
The Mural Committee and Tekpankalli agreed on a concept for the painting which was to artistically represent the link between knowledge and the region’s past and present. The painting also was to "portray a cultural openness to visitors, the CU-CS community, the local community and the region at large." The focal point of the painting is the "nina cosmica", the cosmic child, a symbol of the knowledge of the universe. According to Aurelio Diaz, the painting also is about unity and taking care of the earth. Celebrating the "religion of family" is another theme which figures largely in the mural.
The original concept was for the painting to be three-panels and mobile so that it could be moved to different buildings for special events. The painting was originally in the Student Center; however, for most of its campus years, it has resided in the Library.
Today Mr. Tekpankalli lives in Michoacan, Mexico, and is no longer doing any painting. He travels all over the world, conducting ceremonies with indigenous and non-indigenous peoples and focusing his energies on the Peace and Dignity Movement. This movement is based on the Prophecy of the Eagle and the Condor in which the Native Nations reunite as one. Tekpankalli is the spiritual chief (Roadman) of the Native Church (Sacred Fireplace) of Itzachilatlan and President of the Condor and Eagle Confederation. He is also a Sun Dance Chief ordained within the Lakota Territories of the Rosebud Sioux. The Peace and Dignity Movement is characterized by "Journeys" which are actually runs made primarily by indigenous individuals and mostly in parts of North America where indigenous people live. They use the motto: "One Continent; One Culture". Some of the runs are thousands of miles long and take many months to complete. Mr. Tekpankalli talks about the alignment of the sun, moon and earth and each year as a time in which the descendents of the original people of the earth have to bring unity to all.
Although Tekpankalli’s work today seems to be of quite a different nature than that of his art work, in theme they are quite similar. Both the CU-CS mural and his Peace and Dignity Movement focus on the honor and unity of indigenous people; both celebrate cultural diversity, and both attempt to link the past and present with the future.
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This page was last updated: 10/01/2007
© 2003 University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
