The large, impressive mural located on the back wall of El Corazon Café at the Lake Chapala Society was created in 2000 for a mural contest put on by the Chapala municipal government.
The artist is Francisco Rojas Miramontes, who was just 21 years old when he painted “Faithful Life-Long Friend.”
Now 37, the Ajijic native has developed into a dedicated professional artist since leaving the village to attend the University of Venice in Italy.
Rojas always had a strong desire to study in Italy. “A friend of mine, an artist in Italy, told me about the university in Venice,” he says. “I ended up spending eight years there learning all about art and Italian.”
Rojas finally received his Masters Degree in Visual Arts in 2013.
A year ago, he left Venice to relocate to Athens with his Greek girlfriend, who studied museum and gallery management at the same university.
Although not a fan of big cities, Rojas says he loves Athens’ landscapes, museums and archeological sites.
And he is already making something of a name for himself.
“Last summer I had an exhibition in the city of Volos, and in December I represented Mexico in an exhibition of Latin American countries at the Venezuelan embassy.”
Rojas’ recent works consist of oil paintings, etchings and pencil drawings. He says he most enjoys working with color, light and contrast.
“Typically, we use artificial lights emanating from above. I love Rembrandt and that period when paintings were created by candlelight, which was the only source of light for artists.
“When we use a cell phone, the light is coming from below. If you put a light on top and see your face in mirror, it will appear different from shining a light from below … I like to play with that.
“Right now, I’m working on ‘Absent Presence,’ which is about people and their cell phones. How people everywhere, all the time, are using their phones.
“I take pictures of people on their phones and even ask some of them to pose for me.”
Fascinated with this worldwide phenomenon, he’s titled one his etchings, “To Be or Not to Be … Present.”
He adds: “I am the same as everyone else. I can be without my phone but not for long.”
Another area of interest for Rojas is the social and political climate in Mexico. His thesis was about the victims of the war on the drug cartels instigated by Felipe Calderón, president of Mexico from 2006 to 2012.
“I titled my thesis ‘The Collateral Damages of Calderón’s War’ and included two portraits of victims.”
Along with these paintings, Rojas created two short videos about the darker side of life in Mexico, which can be seen on his website.
Lately, Rojas can be found zipping around his hometown during his brief stay.
“I like visiting Ajijic,” he says. “My whole family is here, plus lots of my friends. I love the weather and the scenery.”
Rojas will also be heading to local galleries to see if any want to carry his work.
“I am always looking for more opportunities to sell my art.”
When he returns to his studio in Athens, Rojas says he will begin the process of participating in art contests in Italy, London and Barcelona.
To view Rojas’ artwork, visit frojasmiramontes.com.