The values of rural Mexico are elevated in this work through the premise of movement. Satevó: From Sunrise to Sunset is a visual creation of both historical and social significance. It serves as an allegory of the life of those who inhabit the northern regions of Mexico, more specifically the municipality of San Francisco Javier de Satevó.
Founded in 1604 as a mission established by Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries, Satevó provides the historical foundation for the work. At the upper center of the composition stands the Mission of San Francisco Javier de Satevó, one of the oldest missions in the state of Chihuahua. It is framed by a serene landscape surrounded by the Chaconeña Mountain Range. At the opposite end, the region's primary economic activities—agriculture and cattle ranching—are portrayed alongside elements of its historical past, including mestizaje (cultural and racial blending), the Mexican Revolution, and the essential role of women within these historical processes.
The viewer soon realizes that the central figure of both the composition and the local narrative is the horseman and his horse. Fused into a single dynamic form, they dominate the Spanish longhorn bull. This traditional ranching practice has remained an enduring bond with the region's heritage for more than 400 years.
The work is based on the principle of the cycle and its symbolic meanings—a life shaped by time and sustained through tradition. Consequently, the region's activities are represented through the four seasons of the year, expressed by radial brushstrokes emerging from the horse's chest. These strokes create harmony and are complemented by green and golden lines that surround the animal like a radiant halo. As viewers move from one end of the mural to the other, they become active participants in the work, discovering a visual journey that reveals multiple compositional perspectives and reinforces the cyclical nature of life in Satevó.
To further emphasize this principle of cyclical existence, the mural includes representations of the leafcutter ants, master builders of intricate underground colonies, symbolizing collective labor, perseverance, and continuity. The role of women is equally fundamental, as in every aspect of community life. They are the keepers of hope within the family, represented through nurturing hands that season both food and the soul, and through the embroidery that preserves the memories of those who have departed.
The mural also depicts the determination required to throw the lasso and begin cattle drives, as well as the strength and skill of the hands that shoe horses, keeping alive the traditions of a region recognized as the birthplace of cattle ranching in the state of Chihuahua.
This mural highlights the activities that bring joy to the local community as the reward for continuous labor from sunrise to sunset. The people of Satevó celebrate through traditions such as cattle branding, local dances, coleaderos (traditional rodeo competitions), horse races, and the festivities honoring their patron saint, San Francisco Javier de Satevó. Equally significant are the celebrations marking the return of relatives who come home after emigrating.
Daily life in Satevó is profoundly shaped by its geographical landscape. Accordingly, the mural's chromatic language emerges from the way light expands across the environment and along the horizons of the region. Past and present converge in Satevó: From Sunrise to Sunset—a vision created by and for its own people: those who remained, those who became involved, those who were defeated, and those who triumphed. All are portrayed through the artist's profound gaze and expressive brushwork.
By Mayra Núñez
