CIPACTLI
Cipactli, the most ancient creature to walk our land and the origin of evolution of all living beings.
In an era of darkness where there was nothing but one ocean, Cipactli, an eternally hungry sea creature, half crocodile - half fish, roamed. It is said that Tezcatlipoca (Smoking Mirror), along with his brother Quetzalcóatl (beautiful serpent), captured Cipactli and split her in half to create the Earth.
One day, while they were watching the marine reptile closely, they decided that the Earth should be created from Cipactli’s body, for she devoured everything around her, leaving no room for any other creation. So Tezcatlipoca, determined to capture Cipactli, decided to put one of his foot into the ocean to use it as bait; but as soon as she saw it, she immediately ate it. When the creature came back to devour the rest, the brothers managed to capture her, and once caught, they split her in half, placing one half over the other, creating the Earth and the skies.
However, the brothers were not satisfied with their creation, since they had not assigned a place for mankind. It was then, when they separated the two halves of Cipactli with two strong trees, creating a space where humans could live. The creature’s head became the heavens, and its tail the underworld. The damage done to Cipactli was so violent and outrageous, that in compensation for her pain, the cosmic brothers agreed that from her only good things would sprout so that Human beings could live on Earth. Her eyes became lakes and ponds, her skin flowers and trees, her mouth rivers and caves, and her nose valleys and mountains.
Original painting.
9" x 12", signed.
Watercolor and ink.
140 lb. 300g. watercolor paper.
Cipactli, the most ancient creature to walk our land and the origin of evolution of all living beings.
In an era of darkness where there was nothing but one ocean, Cipactli, an eternally hungry sea creature, half crocodile - half fish, roamed. It is said that Tezcatlipoca (Smoking Mirror), along with his brother Quetzalcóatl (beautiful serpent), captured Cipactli and split her in half to create the Earth.
One day, while they were watching the marine reptile closely, they decided that the Earth should be created from Cipactli’s body, for she devoured everything around her, leaving no room for any other creation. So Tezcatlipoca, determined to capture Cipactli, decided to put one of his foot into the ocean to use it as bait; but as soon as she saw it, she immediately ate it. When the creature came back to devour the rest, the brothers managed to capture her, and once caught, they split her in half, placing one half over the other, creating the Earth and the skies.
However, the brothers were not satisfied with their creation, since they had not assigned a place for mankind. It was then, when they separated the two halves of Cipactli with two strong trees, creating a space where humans could live. The creature’s head became the heavens, and its tail the underworld. The damage done to Cipactli was so violent and outrageous, that in compensation for her pain, the cosmic brothers agreed that from her only good things would sprout so that Human beings could live on Earth. Her eyes became lakes and ponds, her skin flowers and trees, her mouth rivers and caves, and her nose valleys and mountains.
Original painting.
9" x 12", signed.
Watercolor and ink.
140 lb. 300g. watercolor paper.
Cipactli, the most ancient creature to walk our land and the origin of evolution of all living beings.
In an era of darkness where there was nothing but one ocean, Cipactli, an eternally hungry sea creature, half crocodile - half fish, roamed. It is said that Tezcatlipoca (Smoking Mirror), along with his brother Quetzalcóatl (beautiful serpent), captured Cipactli and split her in half to create the Earth.
One day, while they were watching the marine reptile closely, they decided that the Earth should be created from Cipactli’s body, for she devoured everything around her, leaving no room for any other creation. So Tezcatlipoca, determined to capture Cipactli, decided to put one of his foot into the ocean to use it as bait; but as soon as she saw it, she immediately ate it. When the creature came back to devour the rest, the brothers managed to capture her, and once caught, they split her in half, placing one half over the other, creating the Earth and the skies.
However, the brothers were not satisfied with their creation, since they had not assigned a place for mankind. It was then, when they separated the two halves of Cipactli with two strong trees, creating a space where humans could live. The creature’s head became the heavens, and its tail the underworld. The damage done to Cipactli was so violent and outrageous, that in compensation for her pain, the cosmic brothers agreed that from her only good things would sprout so that Human beings could live on Earth. Her eyes became lakes and ponds, her skin flowers and trees, her mouth rivers and caves, and her nose valleys and mountains.
Original painting.
9" x 12", signed.
Watercolor and ink.
140 lb. 300g. watercolor paper.