Mexican Agrobiodiversity at the Daily Life Exhibition: Exploring the Influence of Nature on Our Lives
The exhibition “Daily Life: The Importance of Mexican Agrobiodiversity” will be opening today at 12 noon in the Dahlia forum of the Botanical Garden of the Institute of Biology (IB) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. This exhibition aims to showcase the significance of objects of agricultural diversity in everyday life, highlighting items that were once essential for daily tasks but are now appreciated as crafts or decorations.
Among the more than 400 pieces in the exhibition, visitors can see a variety of objects that played a role in people’s daily lives, such as an Ixtle shirgo cape made from the leaves of Yucca filifera, a mule suadero protector for pack animals, and a unique honey box. The exhibition also features a coffee pulper, indigenous emperor chairs, and fishermen’s traps with clever designs.
The purpose of this exhibition is to broaden our perspective on agrobiodiversity beyond staples like corn, beans, and pumpkin. It aims to showcase how agricultural diversity influences various aspects of life, from clothing and tools to food and healing practices. Visitors can explore a section dedicated to jewelry made from natural materials like flowers, corn, and palm, as well as basketry, huipils, and medicinal plants.
Through the assembly of these items, visitors can reflect on the use of natural resources and the impact of industrialization on the environment. This exhibition serves as a reminder to preserve traditional practices and natural elements to avoid pollution and excessive use of plastics. By exploring these items, visitors can connect with nature and appreciate the ingenuity of utilizing natural resources for everyday products.
This exhibition was curated by ethnobotanist Leonardo Beltrán Rodríguez and Salma Gómez Ibarra from the educational area of the Institute of Biology. It invites visitors to explore Mexican agrobiodiversity’s rich history and its essential role in everyday life.
