El Batéy by Rafael Rivera García (Interpretation and Analysis)

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El Batéy by Rafael Rivera García
Murals del Batéy
Photo Credit: José Oliver-Didier
 One genre of art that I haven’t discussed much on this blog is the mural. Murals are particularly interesting because they are usually public art and, thus, say a lot about what their community understands the world and what they value.

Today, I want to talk about the Batéy murals, located under an overpass in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I’ve seen these murals multiple times on various trips to Puerto Rico; however, I have to admit that I never considered their significance as art until I started writing this blog.

According to my research, these murals were created by Neorican muralist Rafael Rivera García in 1979 in honor of the Pan American Games, which were held in San Juan that year. The murals depict the pre-Columbian people of Puerto Rico — the Tainos — playing a game called Batu, which involved keeping a rubber ball in the air without using hands or feet. The game was ceremonial in nature, carrying deep cultural importance for the Tainos.

El Batéy by Rafael Rivera García
Murals del Batéy
Photo Credit: José Oliver-Didier

The artist’s decision to portray this game is significant. The murals visually link the past to the present, implying a comparison between the pre-Columbian Batu players with the athletes competing in the Pan American games. The juxtaposition signals pride in Puerto Rico’s history and rich cultural heritage, while also reinterpreting that history for a modern audience. Rivera’s stylized depiction of the Tainos — using bright colors and bold lines — conveys the idea that these people are a part of the twentieth century: enmeshed in modern Puerto Rican culture, vibrant, and relevant.

This point of view is representative of a larger resurgence of interest in Taino and pre-Columbian culture that began around the 1960s. The message of this movement (and, by extension, this mural) is clear: the past is part of what we do now, it is relevant, and it is important.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.

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