Efren González let out a nervous chuckle as he slapped tile plaster on the back side of the first of several hundred clay plaques that will make up his Mural de los Muertos, a massive sculpture he is creating as permanent tribute to Ajijic’s dearly departed.
He gently pushed the piece into to place, let go, stepped back and sighed, pleased to see it was firmly fixed.
The artist’s new work will be composed of identical bas-relief skulls fashioned from the same mold, the only distinction being the names of the memorialized individuals inscribed on each piece.
This week he began installing the pieces that will appear in parallel rows stretched along the exterior wall of the Marcos Castellanos school, located across the street of the San Andrés church.
The mural will be lit up with votive candles for Day of the Dead observances on November 1 and 2.