In 2019, Mexico was the focus of an eight-month long cultural festival titled ELDORADO presented in the city of Lille, France and its surrounding area (www.lille3000.com). Events included exhibitions, music, gastronomy, wrestling, cinema, literature, workshops, and an inauguration parade inspired by Mexico City’s Mega Procession for the Day of the Dead. Through 92 exhibitions and over 1,500 different activities, approximately 3,000,000 people were able to experience different forms of Mexican culture. This was, of course, amplified even more through the social-media and press hits.
Undoubtedly, the most visible and successful exhibition was LES ALEBRIJES SUR LA RAMBLA. The City of Lille commissioned ten alebrijes to stand 22 feet high for installation along Lille’s main avenue (Rue Faidherbe). The alebrijes were designed and made by artists and artisans in Mexico and shipped to Lille where they remained for the eight months, earning the admiration of thousands of viewers.
After this success, the exhibition was set at Parc de la Villette in Paris for six months. Subsequently, many cities in France and as well as cities in other European countries (Italy, Spain, Portugal…) expressed interest in hosting the exhibit but the COVID crisis paused the further development of the project in Europe.
