Niño elefante tomando Ele-rat 7
Julio Galán
Elephant Child Drinking Ele-Rat 7
Galán’s work is often distinguished by cryptic tales encoded in quotes, visual vocabularies inherited from popular tradition, and the avant-garde of 1920s Mexico. These references allow him to combine self-referential images with interrogations of identity.
In this painting, the depiction of an animal transmutation expresses a discomfort with personal history and intimate imagery. In this way, the piece exceeds the bounds of so-called neomexicanismo—the category so often used to constrain the work of artists like Galán—and proves his ability to analyze a time of crisis marked by complex social and emotional challenges.
JULIO GALÁN (1959–2006)
Niño elefante tomando Ele-rat 7, 1985
Elephant Child Drinking Ele-Rat 7
Oil and acrylic on canvas
Acquisition, 2005
