from maguey to agave
Agaves are short stemmed succulent plants with fleshy triangle shaped leaves that grow in a spiral motion around the stem and are protected by sharp teeth. Commonly referred to as the century plant, they require at least a decade to mature and flower. They only flower once in their lifetime; a stunning central stalk emerges from the stem and can reach up to 10 meters above ground. The Agave’s wide variety of uses have included cordage, nets, bags, baskets, mats, blankets, weapons, clothing and sandals, as well as in cooking, rituals, poison and medicine.
Ancient mesoamerican civilizations’ fascination with agaves extended beyond their material use to their perceived spiritual potency, related to the fermentation of their natural juices turned into pulque and personified in the deity Mayahuel, a mother figure, fertility goddess, often depicted with four hundred breasts.
Such stories have been submerged under the sails and tales of colonial expeditions. From the 16th century onwards, conquerors sent botanists and artists into colonies to observe, illustrate, and classify nature to fit narratives.
The maguey’s many lives have led me on curious exploration of uncertain and emerging futures, as well as foraging through the past, beyond popular definitions of survival that are synonymous with expansion or conquest. Documenting our interactions has become an ongoing part of my research.