i

CHICHIMECAS, AZTECAS & MEXICAS

Concheros is the name given to a ceremony performed in Mexico since the colonial period, along with the music that accompanies it. Syncretic in nature, it features both prehispanic and Christian elements, and its exact origins are difficult to connect to a specific prehispanic religious ceremony. Nowadays, however, it is performed during a number of Christian festivities, and many variants currently exist.

It is a circular and cyclical dance, performative, yet not intended for an audience. Calling upon a deity and their ancestors, concheros organize themselves into groups and hierarchies, and dance and play, in a ritual that brings past and present together. The sound of armadillo-shell mandolins, ayoyotes (shells, tied to the ankles), and drums fills the air, as fragrant herbs purify the space and those who take part.

Concheros is an event set apart by its sounds, its atmosphere, its emotion, and its mystique. Taking the ritual as inspiration, CEREMONIA is a search for meaning and magic within the utilitarian. On the other hand, it is a simple and clear denunciation: objects that are perceived as useful are given value according to their function; however, when  presented in a particular way, they can become the artifacts of a mystical experience.