The
works of Luis Jiménez exhibit a profoundly Chicano aesthetic and sensibility,
one that is informed by Mexican and Mexican American traditions, North American
popular culture, Chicano cultural icons, and images and themes unique to the
Southwest. His graphic works, much like his monumental fiberglass sculptures,
are brash, dynamic, flashy, and sensual, a mixture of popular rasquachismo and
superb draftsmanship.
The idea for Cholo and Van with Popo and Ixta stems from the Mexican
mythological characters Popocatepetl and Ixtacihuatl and also alludes to other
classical sources such as Romeo and Juliet. It captures Popo as he is holding
the dead Ixta; both of them, according to mythology, will be transformed into
the twin volcanoes that dominate the central Mexican tableland (here in the
background). The images of the eagle, cactus, and snake evoke both Native American
and Southwestern mythology and imagery. This vignette serves as an allegory
for the deep sense of loss felt by Hispanics, both in Mexico and the United
States, resulting from the destruction of their culture by outside forces.
