CODEX – Tale of the Conquest

It will consist of a preparatory study for the elaboration of a codex that seeks the representation of a group of Tlatelolca women, who participated in the last confrontation of the Mexica against the Spanish on August 13, 1521.

As part of my research in the Tlatelolca Biennial and the SILO/Semillera de memoria oral project, I found a first account told by the Tlatelolcas themselves about living in this place, it is a manuscript called "el Relato de la Conquista", written by an anonymous Tlatelolca, which describes how women participate in the emblematic fall of the Mexica/Tlatelolcas on August 13, 1521.

From the analysis of the manuscript in a facsimile copy in the National Library of Mexico, it is evident that it was written by several authors, since you can see the calligraphic variations in the document, which led me to ask: Is it possible that a woman wrote this fragment? Can history or archaeological objects be read with a gender perspective as a manuscript written by pre-Hispanic authors? In addition, in the iconographic research, there are no images that describe them, which led me to propose in an exercise of imagination and creation of contemporary memories, and to propose the creation of a codex in which these women, their costumes, weapons, and insignia are represented.

The importance of creating this codex in Lagos-Momentum in the city of Berlin, aims to draw on the context and knowledge of a city that has been the nerve center of a profound reflection on the study of memories and its relationship between memory and the city, art and creation. 

Activities to be carried out: to previously visit the National Library of France in the city of Paris to get to know the manuscript of the "Account of the Conquest". Analyze its structure, size, calligraphy, drawings, etc. And to consult other manuscripts, facsimiles and codices found in this library and in the libraries of the city of Berlin. Carry out an iconographic analysis of representations of women in previously consulted documents in order to gather elements for the construction of the proposed codex. Elaboration of the codex with drawing using Chinese ink and natural dyes used in the analyzed codices such as indigo or grana cochineal. Visiting memory spaces in the city of Berlin.