Darth Vader Beaded Helmet

Álvaro Ortiz López-Puwari

2021

Plastic, glass beads, beeswax

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Artist Statement: It is said that my people, commonly known as “Huichol” but originally “Wixarika” (singular) “Wixaritaari” (plural) is one of those that most conserves its ancestral practices among the native peoples of Mexico. In this art, we traditionally use a special preparation of beeswax instead of industrial glues due to several advantages. It is part of the ancestral technique, it is not toxic and in the event of some involuntary damage to the piece, it can be easily repaired. With dry glue this would not be possible. The only indication is not to place it in direct sunlight or intense heat. On the layer of beeswax, the bea