The “FREESTYLEE ROOTS” Exhibition at FES Acatlán – UNAM

The “FREESTYLEE ROOTS” exhibition opened at the campus of FES Acatlán – UNAM on March 14, 2016, in northern Mexico City. The exhibition was organized as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of Jamaica/Mexico diplomatic relation. “Roots” featured 50 posters in the new UNAM language department administrative building, and was attended by the Jamaican Ambassador Sandra Anita Grant Griffiths and embassy staff, representatives of the SRE (Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores), Ambassador Yanerit Cristina Morgan Sotomayor, Director General of Latin America and the Caribbean, Ambassador Gerardo Lozano Arredondo, Mr José Luis Hernández, FES Acatlán – UNAM representatives; Mr Víctor Hugo Castañeda Salazar, Secretary of the University Extension, Mrs María del Consuelo Santamaría Aguirre, Center Coordinator Language Teaching and Huawei Technologies Mr Francisco García González, Public Relations Manager.

This compelling exhibition features 50 graphic posters designed by the Jamaican artist Michael Thompson aka FREESTYLEE artist without borders. Conceived as “ROOTS”, this vibrant collection of posters penetrates beneath the surface, reaching to the foundations of Jamaican culture. The original name of the island, Xaymaca, means land of wood and water in the Arawakan language. The fertility of the Jamaican landscape is matched by the richness of the island’s resilient culture.

At the root of modern Jamaica is a history of sustained resistance against forces of oppression. The Taino people fought valiantly against the rapacious European invaders. Later, Africans who were brought against their will to Xaymaca escaped enslavement, establishing Maroon communities in the mountainous interior. In the 20th century, the Rastafari movement emerged as a new wave of maroonage, with a vision of repatriation to Africa. And reggae music exploded as the sound track of the island’s cultural revolution.

This exhibition of Michael Thompson’s powerful posters focuses on two distinct themes. First, there is the celebration of the heroism of the Jamaican people: Queen Nanny of the Maroons, freedom fighter Paul Bogle and Marcus Garvey, Pan-Africanist champion of black people across the world. Jamaican culture in all its dynamism is honoured. The second theme of the exhibition highlights some of the festering global problems that need urgent attention. For example, Thompson’s evocative posters constitute creative resistance to the tragedy of war and forced migration.

In essence, “ROOTS” presents a substantive selection of Michael Thompson’s politically engaged posters. The exhibition eloquently articulates the artist’s mission to change how we look at the past and the present and how we conceive the future. Affirming the optimism of Bob Marley’s “One Love” message, Thompson’s poster art reaches beyond borders to embrace diverse cultures, establishing communities of empathy.

– Professor Carolyn Cooper