Tomb of the Ancients
12-oz Corona lager, Mitla, Mexico

This work exemplies a seismic shift in Ramirez y Borracho's focus (or lack of same). The artist's sense of disillusion with the Catholic church became profound at this point, and he slowly began turning his attention to Mexico's indigenous heritage as a source for material.

"Tomb of Ancients" represents the newfound clarity of purpose in the artist's mission. His choice of a Corona -- with its clear glass bottle -- is hardly an accident, with the glass amplifying and distorting the backdrop of Mitla's ancient Zapotec ruins.

Still, Ramirez y Borracho had difficulty making a clean break with the religious orientation of his early work. A Catholic church looms in the background, just visible in the upper right behind the walls of the ruin. Like many of us, Ramirez y Borracho would experience much personal torment and soul-searching before he could completely sever all ties to his past.


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