Luna Llena
- Title
- Luna Llena
- Creator
- Xilam Balam
Xilam Balam is a contemporary muralist, visual artist, ceramist, and music producer. Born in Texas and raised in St. Paul, Xilam’s work can be found in many areas of the neighborhood. His latest work Luna Llena can be found in the St. Paul ChromaZone. In addition to his mural art, he is also a music producer, creating contemporary hip-hop. His Mexica / Maya music is featured in his studio Electric Machete Studios. His studio has been rather successful, performing at various venues and being featured in magazines. Looking at his mural work, Xilam focuses on Indigenous and Latin Art. Some of his works can be found in schools, libraries, businesses on Lake Street and more. - Date
- Date of Creation: 2024
Date of Documentation: November 15th, 2024 - Description
- Inspired by Mexica and Maya works, Balam created "Luna Llena." His mural encompasses many skillful design techniques and elements that contribute to this design. Luna Llena also contains elements of modern art and design. Created in August 2024, this piece containing pre-Columbian Indigenous art draws on design elements from the era. It is in the St Paul “ChromaZone” at 711 Vandalia Street. The person depicted in this painting is Ix Chel, an ancient moon goddess. Surrounding her are rabbits, which are often associated with this figure. This figure is also reaching out their hands for corn, which also has a historical relevance to this painting. The lines used in this painting are mostly curved. They allow the viewers’ attention to be directed around the mural without specific elements standing out more than others. In the symbol behind the figure, all of the lines are curved, with each side going into a “spiral.” With the lines not being straight and sharp, it allows for a softer image. Looking at the symbol behind the figure, the curved lines that form a semi-circle around the figure are used to bring the eyes of the viewer to the figure. This line direction is also used to signal the viewer where to look. Seen on the headpiece of the figure, there are more lines going horizontally than vertically, which leads the viewer to look left-to-right, drawing attention to the hands. Additional lines are used in this mural to make the goddess figure stand out. The entire figure is surrounded by a thin purple and yellow line that separates the figure from the background. It also gives it more of a 3-dimensional appearance. The symmetry in this mural is well done; the elements on each side of the mural give the mural balance. This is seen with the hand reaching out for the corn on the right and the headpiece reaching out on the left. This is also seen at the top, with the background symbol extending to both the left and right sides of the painting. To add to this symmetry, each side is composed of horizontal lines that balance out the vertical lines on the top and bottom of the mural. The rabbits are also representative of these elements as there is one on each side, providing symmetry. However, one of these rabbits is a farther distance from the figure than the other. This helps focus the viewer’s attention on the focal point in the mural because the rabbit is located directly beneath it. The hand in this mural is the primary focal point. This hand is pictured to be facing palms-up while corn flows into it. There is a green bracelet around the wrist, which is bolded to make it stand out from the rest of the mural. This gesture being made by the goddess appears to be receiving corn from something. To add to this, the entire hand and the rest of the figure being highlighted by a line adds more depth to the mural. An additional focal point is the head of the goddess, where a green earring is seen along with the extravagant headpiece. The color choices in this piece are vibrant yet balanced. The purple/pink background set the stage for the white and gray symbol and figure. These colors give the work an eye-popping burst of energy, which allows for the focal points to stand out. The colors used in the mural are used to make clear distinctions for the differences between the background and the subject of the mural. The gray is used to be a background element that the viewer does not need to pay close attention to. This is seen in the symbol in the background and the rabbits towards the bottom of the mural. The same effect is used for the focal points, where Xilam uses green to signify the focal points. These can be seen with the earrings on the goddess and the bracelet around the wrist of the hand. Another interesting color element toward the center of the mural is the bright white shell attached to the head of the person. This white is the brightest shade of white in the painting, which stands out from the rest of the work and matches the cloak the figure is wearing. The texture of this mural is made of cinder block. While much of the background hides this with color and symbols, the lined texture remains. The entirety of the wall for this mural consists of horizontal lines approximately 8 inches apart. The lines highlight and bring attention to where the location of this mural is and call for acknowledgment of the wall the mural was created on. The advantage of having these cinderblock texture lines also adds background characteristics that bring more depth to the mural. It also contributes to the spacing. Looking at the space in this mural, there is a clear background, middle ground, and foreground. The background elements include the purple directly on the wall in addition to the pink symbols. These background elements contribute to the viewer’s overall recognition of the mural, as they provide a contrast to the other elements of the mural. The middle ground consists of the gray symbol and rabbits. In addition to the meaning of these symbols and elements, they draw attention to the main focal points of the mural. The symbol in the middle extends to the top and then wraps around the figure in the center of the mural in a semi-circle, which sets the viewing points for the viewer. There is also a large amount of space above the goddess figure, where the top is approximately halfway down the painting. This leaves room for the symbol at the top to be seen, where it extends to the left and right and fills the upper space. In the foreground, the goddess figure is layered on top of the rest of the elements in the mural. As has been already mentioned, this is distinguished by the highlighted purple and yellow lines surrounding the entirety of the figure. This makes the figure stand out from the rest of the mural. The space in the foreground figure is centered. The figure’s head starts in the middle and extends downward, going off the bottom of the wall. This makes the painting appear “cut off,” where the viewer has the perception that the entirety of the painting hasn’t been shown. The depth in all three layers in his painting is well executed. The middle ground elements have elements that go over the background, and the foreground has elements that go over the middle ground. These bring a layering effect that makes the figure pop out from the rest of the mural.
- Subject
- Looking at this mural, there are many themes that are encompassed with a historical context. Much of Xilam Balam’s work is centered around Mexica and Mayan works, and this piece follows these themes. “Luna Llena” is a mural of the Mayan goddess Ix Chel, known for being the moon goddess. In this mural, there are also rabbits pictured beside Ix Chel. This is commonly associated with rabbits, which are known to symbolize fertility and abundance. Ix Chel is also known to be the chief god of a great city she created, prepping the world and universe for a “new age.” The significance of this is that this mural symbolizes a “new age” with all of the change happening around the world. Looking on a micro level, this mural is now a part of the ChromaZone, which was once purely industrial and has now transformed into an art prosperous area. Another aspect of this mural is the corn flowing into Ix Chel’s hands. Corn has a significant meaning in Mexica and Mayan culture, often representing the nature of life. This is referring to rebirth and the cycle of seasons, where everything is said to be in constant motion if change. The meaning behind these two symbols in this mural could be interpreted as corn, which represents a “change and rebirth,” is being put into the hands of Ix Chel, who is known for being a pioneer in creating a “new age.” This mural is a representation of how there is dramatic change needed in our society, and how we choose to lead that change is crucial. By giving Ix Chel these “keys” of change, monumental shifts in our world will take place. This mural is a visual representation of this and is calling for this to happen in our society.
- Rights
- Artist: Xilam Balam
Researcher: Alex King - Source
- LitCharts. *Popol Vuh: Symbols – Corn.* LitCharts, https://www.litcharts.com/lit/popol-vuh/symbols/corn#:~:text=Prior%20to%20the%20creation%20of,comes%20to%20represent%20life%20itself. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Spanish Academy Antigüeña. *Ixchel: Mayan Goddess.* Spanish Academy Antigüeña Blog, 10 July 2021, https://www.spanishacademyantiguena.com/blog/2021/07/10/ixchel-mayan-goddess/. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Thalia Took. *Ixchel.* ThaliaTook.com, https://www.thaliatook.com/AMGG/ixchel.php. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Chromazone. *Xilam Balam.* Chromazone.net, https://www.chromazone.net/xilam-balam. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Instagram. *Xilam Balam Ybarra.* Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/xilam_balam_ybarra/. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Files
Collection
Citation
Xilam Balam Xilam Balam is a contemporary muralist, visual artist, ceramist, and music producer. Born in Texas and raised in St. Paul, Xilam’s work can be found in many areas of the neighborhood. His latest work Luna Llena can be found in the St. Paul ChromaZone. In addition to his mural art, he is also a music producer, creating contemporary hip-hop. His Mexica / Maya music is featured in his studio Electric Machete Studios. His studio has been rather successful, performing at various venues and being featured in magazines. Looking at his mural work, Xilam focuses on Indigenous and Latin Art. Some of his works can be found in schools, libraries, businesses on Lake Street and more., “Luna Llena,” accessed January 14, 2025, https://mspmurals.omeka.net/items/show/47.