Symbols of homeland and fabric: the charro and the china poblana come together at Casa ITESO Clavigero

ITESO Editorial Team

Key players in the construction of a new national identity that was essential to recover, the china poblana and the charro are symbols considered distinctive of “Mexicanness”.

Photographs, paintings, clay sculptures and clothing pieces make up the exhibition "The charro and the china poblana, emblems of Mexican identity" , at the Casa ITESO Clavigero, which highlights the attire, character and gallantry of both figures.

According to writer and anthropologist Alfonso Alfaro, the charro and the china poblana are part of a set of images that, well into the 20th century, helped a Mexican society fractured by war to reconcile itself. In these images, the charro appears as a diligent and resourceful figure, while the china poblana embodies both the vernacular and the cosmopolitan.

Over the decades, the image of the China Poblana transformed into that of a strong and resolute woman, a symbol of emancipation in textbooks. In this way, symbols were established that express the aspirations of a country that can only fully realize itself when it recognizes the unique identity of each of the regions—the homelands—that comprise it.

The exhibition comprises works from 10 private collectors and four institutions: the Cabañas Cultural Institute, the Querétaro Calendar Museum, the Guadalajara Regional Museum-INAH, and the Regional Ceramics Museum, on loan from the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples. Among the highlights are works by Ernesto Icaza, clay pieces from the Panduro family, and a watercolor by Paul Fisher, as well as traditional charro and china poblana attire.

As part of the exhibition and the University Cultural Festival, the panel discussion “Dressing Tradition: A History of Clothing in Mexico” will take place this Thursday, October 22, at 8:00 p.m. at the Casa. The conversation will feature Cristina Palomar, a social anthropologist and researcher specializing in gender studies, nationalism, and cultural identities, who will discuss the origins of everyday clothing in ranch and hacienda work; René Arce, a dancer, researcher, and member of the Commission for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), who will talk about playful moments and the implications of the evolution of clothing, from work to celebration; and Enrique Alvarado, a professional in costume design and tailoring, as well as director of Hoja de Maíz, a project through which he develops proposals linked to Mexican identity, culture, and creativity, who will comment on the current production of traditional and contemporary clothing.

The exhibition "The Charro and the China Poblana, Emblems of Mexican Identity ," curated by Gutierre Aceves, will remain on display until January 31, 2027. It can be visited Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Casa ITESO Clavigero is located at José Guadalupe Zuno 2083, in the Americana neighborhood.