Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Icons in Mexico

So, I am new at blogging and after reading what people have posted I feel like I can get the hang of this. That is kind of the reason why it took me so long to write something here because I really had no idea as to what I would write. As I was thinking about how design has impacted my life, and how I am always thinking about design in everything I see, I remembered that while I was in Mexico this last summer, my design eye was in for a treat.

I was born in Mexico, but I came to the U.S at the age of 5 and have lived here ever since. I had not been to Mexico since I was five so when I had the chance to go last Summer, I was so excited and nervous. I had taken a History of Latin American Art class that Spring QT before I went, so I was looking at with an Art and Designer eye.

One of the things that caught my eye were the logos for the cell phones, companies and home businesses. I thought that it was so amazing that in the neighborhoods the people themselves painted on their family business names, and I really enjoyed their twist on type and color. Anyway, when I went on the famous train line in Mexico, well well, my design eye was so happy to see that each station on a line was identified by an icon. I thought it was the coolest thing ever because their icons were so simple and colorful, but obviously my family was accustomed to it so they did not find it as fascinating as me. This experienced has pushed me to look at my country and more Latin American art as inspiration (as my classmates from other classes have noted) that I have been making a lot of work related to Mexico. I feel that for me, as an immigrant, connecting with Latin American art has helped fill a void I had felt as an artist.

20 comments:

  1. That's a very cool observation Lili. I find that the simple icons (such as the ones that you mentioned on the map) can be unbelievably helpful when you are not a native speaker. You are able to find your way around using pictures instead of having to understand the language!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I remember my latin american art history class. Some absolutely gorgeous colors in the art. I especially recall Brazilian artist Tarsila do Amaral. Amazing, vibrant color in her work.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It is always interesting to see things, especially art, from another culture and compare it to what we already see in our own. I like how you pointed out that your family did not think it was so special because they probably see it everyday and it is so normal for them. I think we should try to see our own art through the eyes of someone else.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love how other countries like Mexico embrace color. I feel like many Western art history courses are filled with monotone, dull paintings, but I loved studying the colorful art of Mexico in my Art of the Americas course.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I also agree with your observation Lili, Mexico is so colorful and beautiful with the designs they create, it roots deeply in their culture which is why some people may disregard it as something cool because they are so used to seeing it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think it is great that you incorporate your culture into your work. You have a chance to showcase pride in your roots and spread the colorful culture of Mexico through your artwork.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love the fact that you want to incorporate Mexico into your design and that you are showing pride in your heritage. Seeing the way other countries express themselves through their culture is always fascinating.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have never seen your work before, but I'm excited to if it includes everything you're talking about! I love walking all of Chicago's different neighborhoods in the summer - there are many of the hand painted signs, logos, etc. that you mentioned seeing in Mexico.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am currently taking History of Latin American Art this quarter, and I'm curious to see the similarities and differences between the Latin Modernismo and the European/American Modernist movement. Perhaps during your research, you can draw inspiration from this comparison?

    ReplyDelete
  10. The work you have done in previous classes is always very colorful and personal. I think when you incorporating your past into design the work becomes very personal and I am excited to see what you do for your project.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Taking Delia's Mexico City art history class, she discussed with me these icons. I forgot the artist who designed these certain icons, but it was interesting to find out that it was an artist from the United States that was chosen the winner of the contest. This was a major international success. Another interesting thing to point out is that the icons that the artist designed were simple square icons just like the apps you have seen on an iPhone. The artist had designed these icons before the iPhone was even out, which means his ideas in design where ahead for its time.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have also been thinking about color in design as of late and what fad is in for the western civilization. I have come to realize that we like a lot of earth tones but I was wondering if that is what other countries see us the same way. I love the colors of Mexico as well and wonder if they think there colors are boring (but they just do it out of habit and inspiration) and they think our colors are interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love it when you can tell where a piece or art or even an advertisement is from or what culture it is based in just by looking at it. Of course that has to do with learning and actually being educated about a specific cultures art. I feel like art that has a cultural identity just like the colorful art of Mexico is so indicative of pride in a culture. It's something that is shared between Mexican culture and Filipino culture, which is what I am, and I am sure in any culture pride is important and one way of showing pride can be through art and design.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anyway, when I went on the famous train line in Mexico, well well, my design eye was so happy to see that each station on a line was identified by an icon.

    Apparently in Fukuoka, Japan (which is Shiro's hometown -- I found this out from him), they have something like that too. I think there's even another train line where all of the stops (or the main stops) are represented by cute, attractive anime-style characters. The El in Chicago sometimes has symbols, but they're not on every stop -- only places like Roosevelt (for the museums) or the one Blue Line stop that's near Navy Pier, or for the two main airport lines.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Mexico has a lot of greats in graphic design - I'd consider going there for awhile just to soak up the talent. Check out Latin American Graphic Design from the library, you'll love it.

    ReplyDelete
  16. ive frequented mexico and i love the signs and billboards and everything. its very lively

    ReplyDelete
  17. After reading your post I think it would be a neat idea to re-design the CTA stops for chicago and include some small icons for landmarks for each stop.
    It would be both informative and the piece could go in a highly personalized direction if needed.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I havent seen your work before! I have little exposure to the art coming from Latin America, especially the contemporary- but I think you could have a very meaningful and informative project with the point of view you are privy to.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Culture is a big part of any design especially for the designer. I think that its amazing you had the chance to experience the design from your culture first hand.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I am currently very interested in hand painted commercial signage. This could be a cool topic to explore for inspiration for your project.

    ReplyDelete