Fiery Pool: The Maya and the Mythic Sea
Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA
Over 90 works of Maya art, many never seen before, were assembled by PEM from institutions and private collectors around the world. Surrounded by the sea in all directions, the ancient Maya viewed their world as inextricably tied to water. These works offer exciting new insights into Maya culture that focuses on the sea as a defining feature of the spiritual realm and the inspiration for the finest works of art.
MDA’s design goal was to exhibit these artworks in a context of Maya civilization. Abstract architectural elements and pools of water evoke the settings they inhabited and the world that inspired their creation. Color was used to further define this world: the sun rose from the Caribbean Sea and set in the Gulf of Mexico, the reflected glow made the sea look like a “fiery pool.”
MDA worked closely with PEM curators to conceptualize and design this exhibit, to integrate new media designed by PEM, create full design documentation, specify all finishes, negotiate bids with six vendors for fabrication, and supervise the fabrication / installation of all casework, mounts and lighting.
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