A video shows an Olmec head weighing about nine tons crushing a Tesla. This event, far from being a simple accident, is a work of art conceived by the Mexican sculptor Chavis Mármol. The sculpture is on display to the public next to the Hotel Colima 71, in Mexico City, as part of the Neotameme exhibition.
The intention behind this striking visual work, according to the artist, is to generate a reflection on the interaction between cultural heritage and modern technological progress, symbolized by the car of one of the most innovative companies of the moment.
Chavis Mármol, creator of the work, has explained on his social networks that his piece seeks to highlight the confrontation between two worlds: the rich cultural history symbolized by the Olmec head and modernity represented by the Tesla. “The Olmec head imposes itself before the technological object, bursts it and crushes it, glorifying itself before a symbol of capitalism,” stated Mármol. With this he intends to incite a critical review of what really matters: our roots and what we have been throughout the generations.
The artist has emphasized that his work does not seek to innovate for the sake of innovation, nor does he consider himself a genius. Inspired by the work of other artists that he admires, Mármol wanted, through this piece, to criticize the expansion of technology companies in Mexico, referring specifically to Elon Musk and his influence in the country. In this way, the work acts as a large-scale meme.
This Marble project uses Olmec heads instead of normal rocks to show the importance of this culture in the history of Mexico, thus promoting dialogue between the past and the present.
The Olmec people are recognized as the precursor of all Mesoamerican cultures, with settlements dating back to the Formative period, around 2000 BC, in what are now the states of Veracruz and Tabasco.