Manuel Hernandez is a Mexico City born NYC based painter. The content of his dynamic paintings broadens the narrative of contemporary Native American people within Latin America. In his compositions, written history merges with the oral histories of his ancestors to create a visual representation of reclamation and all the feelings that come with it. In his artistic practice, Hernandez creates rough surfaces attached to walls which are subsequently painted using a dry brush method to create an impression reminiscent of old murals, a method which in its totality acts as a tribute to the Mexican Muralist movement and the ancient fresco murals of Teotihuacan in Mexico. In a departure from the tradition of square paintings, Hernandez cuts his canvases into shapes resembling animal hide paintings. His works are inspired by family stories, historical research, and visits to, and exploration of, his ancestors’ artworks and ruins. Hereby, the new works retell the stories of Hernandez’s ancestors, reestablishing his connection to the cultures of indigenous populations in America from a new perspective. By adopting this method of work Hernandez creates large-scale paintings that integrate the past with contemporary attitudes and ways of life.
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