29 May – 12 September 2010 (Stairwell)
To coincide with the double celebration of the Centenary of the Mexican Revolution and the Bicentenary of Mexican independence - the latest installation in the eighteenth-century stairwell in Pallant House is a vibrant display of art kites or ‘papalotes’ by Francisco Toledo, one of the most important, elusive and controversial artist working in Mexico today.
From the Nahuatl word meaning butterfly, the 'papalote' or kite is an icon of Mexican culture that goes back centuries - typically made from diverse materials such as reeds, dried corn stalks or tree branches, with tails made of plastic or scraps of cloth. A staunch advocate of the cultural heritage of his native state, Oaxaca, Toledo's kites reflect his interests in the history and mythology of Mexico, featuring animals such as snakes and turtles, rabbits and coyotes, bats and toads, crickets and dogs, as well as human figures from Mexican history.