By Natasha Fujimoto
ON a trip of a lifetime in Oaxaca, Mexico, local Shepparton artist, Oriana Teasdale has discovered far more than she had ever anticipated.
While in Mexico City, Oriana found a listing on Workaway for an art residency project called Enmolarte in downtown Oaxaca, seven hours bus ride from the capital.
Founded by a prominent lawyer and art aficionado, Fernando Hernandez, Enmolarte attracts young, female artists from around the world, to create art using Mole, an ancient chilli-based sauce, made with over 30 ingredients that takes three days to make.
Used to celebrate births, funerals and weddings, Mole harks back to the pre-Hispanic Zapotec people, and is today an important part of Oaxacan culture.
Wishing to connect with his own Zapotec heritage and unable to use oil-based paint due to a lung transplant, Fernando requires each of his artists, who share free accommodation, to paint a 2 x 1.5m painting using Mole.
Working with inspirational women from around the world, including poets, musicians, performance artists and textile designers, Oriana said that she has been astounded by the history, culture and generous hospitality of the Mexican people.
“Oaxaca is a vibrant and warm city, the buildings are painted in pinks, blues, greens and yellows and there is always live music playing from every bar.
“Mexican people really know how to enjoy themselves. For Fernando’s birthday we had a four-day party that ended with a mariachi parade, with an uncountable number of fireworks, ending in a traffic blocking conga line,” Oriana said.
To find out more about the Enmolarte art residency project you can email enquiries to enmolarte@gmail.com or view artworks @ennmolarte on Instagram.
