The poster Colours of Mexico, which represents the image of the Mexican Pavilion 2026, evokes three dimensions of Mexican identity: its pre-Hispanic heritage, its contemporary cultural richness, and the living presence of the Mex Y Can Association of Manitoba Inc in this edition of Folklorama.
Pre-Hispanic heritage
The skirt’s weave, the butterflies’ silhouettes, and the decorative motifs on the plate are figures taken from Design Motifs of Ancient Mexico (1947), by Jorge Enciso— a compilation of line drawings found on clay pieces from the pre-Hispanic period. The subtle bouquet of flowers on the plate comes from the Badianus Manuscript (1552), a testament to the Aztec people’s profound knowledge of herbal medicine.
Contemporary cultural relevance
The skirt’s foliage reprises leaves taken from Creation (1922), the mural with which Diego Rivera inaugurated Mexican muralism in the Bolívar Amphitheater in Mexico City. The alebrijes—the jaguar and the toucan—represent magical beings that guide people’s spirits to the other world, where eternity is born. The textile patterns framing the poster express the artisanal creativity that flourishes throughout Mexico.
The living presence of MexYCan in 2026
The two human figures, a woman and a man, symbolize the diversity and energy of the Mexican dances that will be presented in the Mexican Pavilion during Folklorama 2026.