¡ Viva Mexico !

We have some spectacular and historic loans at the museum at the moment, in a partnership between the LAD and the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico.
For example this Atlante from Chichen Itza, dating from the Maya culture, ca 900-1200. This sculptural innovation that appeared for the first time during the Maya period is designed to hold an altar or a lintel of a building in place.

We also have this theatre-type incense burner from the Teotihuacan culture, 0-650, full of details:

And this Anthropomorphic mask, also from the Teotihuacan culture, 200-900. Given the weight, this type of mask was probably not worn by living people. Maybe they were attached to larger sculptures or deity figures.

Another mask on loan is this Mayan mask, from 200-60, probably from a royal burial site. The Mayan rules were buried with masks to reproduce the face of the deceased.

The final loan is the biggest one, and maybe the most special one as it is the first time an Olmec monumental head has been brought to this region. No small feat considering this is a sculpture that weighs 5840 kg!

I had the pleasure of presenting this loan during some school engagement sessions a couple of weeks ago when we had a visit from the Spanish School of Abu Dhabi. I did it with a little bit of Spanish, can you believe! Since it was kids I thought, why not, they will see past any mistakes I made.