If you look closely at this photo (click on to enlarge) you will see, not just the beauty of the colours but also the brilliance of the merchandising, the harmony of the merchants, the pride taken in their work and their indifference to the rest of the world.
This photo taken by the big J, is the Mexico I love; the artisan skills, the resilient attitude, the enterprising spirit.
On the days when Mexico disappoints me, and I want to lash out at the greed, hide from the poverty and throw my hands up in disbelief, I remind myself that in many parts of Mexico and in the world there is a lifestyle that continues in a more simplistic way.
In this photo I see the sophistication Leonardo da Vinci spoke of.
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I explicitly remember taking this photograph on our trip to Oaxaca back in July 2003. I was careful not to get the attention of the merchants. Basically, the Oaxacans do not like to have their faces photographed without their approval, from what I gathered on our visit back then. It is a rather superstitious belief of their culture that I do not completely understand. So being a bit clandestine and daring I remember kinda stretching my arms high above my head and quickly snapping this sneaky photo. I got away with it without any attention drawn to me. I think the merchants, had they of seen this beautiful photo, would have been pleased nonetheless. Well, I hope they would have.
Big J
Life as art, beautiful art. Glad Johnny was sneaky enough to get the photo. For whatever reason, I tend to forget simplicity and sophistication go hand in hand — and it is so obvious.
Marcia you just made me think of the sophistication when a woman wears a single strand of pearls. I hope we’re entering an era of simplicity. It’s time.
Tell Johnny I’ve shared this with several of our photographer friends and all reacted with a WOW. I see so much of my family in this photo and I sometimes am saddened by the loss of the simplicity in the quest to assimilate. However, I am so grateful for all the opportunities I’ve been given as part of that assimilation. Balance is the key …. “Live simply so that others may simply live.” — Mohandas Gandhi
Stella, I love this quote by Gandhi, it’s so true and love that you
shared the photo and that it had meaning for you. I’ll let Johnny know.