INAH will investigate case of artist who kissed archaeological pieces from Mexico

After the controversial performance that the artist Pepx Romero performed at the National Museum of Anthropology (MNA) in Mexico City, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) has already commented on it.

Through a statement sent to the media on Tuesday night, the Institute clarified that it did not give Romero permission to kiss and/or lick several archaeological pieces on display in the museum.

And the fact is that the Instagram account “Obrasdeartecomentadas” published at noon a video clip showing how the Mexican theater producer, who is considered to be one of the main contemporary references of Queer culture in Latin America, stands in front of the pieces to contemplate them and then play them with his lips and tongue, such as a form of “protest” against the traffic in patrimonial property and constant auctions of them abroad, especially the one in 2019 held in France by Casa Drouot, where it managed to sell 95 pieces.

But despite the subject's intention, INAH indicated that its role is to take care of cultural heritage, so it is already reviewing the museum's security systems to determine when the performance “Mexique 2022″ was held on the premises and whether there was direct contact with the collection.

Unsurprisingly, far from endorsing Pepx Romero's performance, many social media users reproached his actions; some even denounced him to the Ministry of Culture and the Mexico City Prosecutor's Office to investigate the case and apply an exemplary sanction to the theater director.

“Artist? That's vandalism... I hope you get fined, as it should be. And the surveillance?” , “It is a lack of respect for all of Mexico, what will be the sanction, SRE?” , “Artist? He is just an idiot doing pendej #d &s, it is incredible that he is not arrested or at least fined, he is damaging historic property”, “The m @m @ds that they do for their five minutes of fame”, “Buffonadas. It does not discuss or question the issue of patrimonial property. Pure desire to move your personal project”, “In that case, urinating them would be more artistic”, “I just want to ask 'what did they taste like? '” , is read between the reactions of Twitter and Instagram.

It is worth mentioning that “Commented Works of Art” predisposed in the same description of the video clip that the performance was going to bother the viewer because he will witness “an apparent damage (we will have to discuss how much saliva affects the stone) to our heritage”, but not the Drout auctions that have been held “without indignation” generalized” of netizens.

In addition, it was pointed out that although the MNA did not buy pieces at auction, there is a question of how it acquired them from their original places to make them the object of exhibition, such as the Tlaloc located at the entrance of the museum: “a reflection of the heritage system that has been generated by the Mexican State”.