Plantation to Paradise, Designing the Caribbean/Mopan, 2018
Textile, concept and design by Pilar Castillo.
(Plantation to Paradise, Designing the Caribbean is a multi-media series.)
36” x 36” textile design/sarong.
Mopan is the name of a region, language and people in the Maya heartland of Belize, Central America. It is the location of the farmland on which I was raised. Belize is on the
mainland of Central America while situated on the Caribbean coast, it is neither claimed by Latin America and often not recognized as a Caribbean nation. Its national identity
is fluid with its Mayan roots, strong African presence and history of British colonization. It exists as an anomaly in the region, being the only English speaking country in Latin
America. This work features a map of the Caribbean over-laid onto a vintage photograph of my mother. A major component of the piece is an extensive list of the indigenous
peoples of the region, names that have disappeared into obscurity.
Textile, concept and design by Pilar Castillo.
(Plantation to Paradise, Designing the Caribbean is a multi-media series.)
36” x 36” textile design/sarong.
Mopan is the name of a region, language and people in the Maya heartland of Belize, Central America. It is the location of the farmland on which I was raised. Belize is on the
mainland of Central America while situated on the Caribbean coast, it is neither claimed by Latin America and often not recognized as a Caribbean nation. Its national identity
is fluid with its Mayan roots, strong African presence and history of British colonization. It exists as an anomaly in the region, being the only English speaking country in Latin
America. This work features a map of the Caribbean over-laid onto a vintage photograph of my mother. A major component of the piece is an extensive list of the indigenous
peoples of the region, names that have disappeared into obscurity.
