Mural La Plena by Rafael Tufiño (Interpretation and Analysis)

Mural la Plena
Source: Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico

Today I want to chat about a monumental piece of art that I recently had the pleasure of seeing at the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico. As the name suggests, Mural La Plena is a massive mural, fifteen by thirty feet in size, that was created by Puerto Rican artist Rafael Tufiño to commemorate la plena, a wildly popular genre of music that was born in the city of Ponce around 1900.

The mural, which might appear abstract or incomprehensible to a viewer unfamiliar with the subject matter, illustrates the lyrics of popular plena songs. For example, the blue-green figure that dominates the upper half of the mural represents the hurricane from the plena “Temporal,” which mourns the destruction caused by a storm. Plena, as a genre, tells stories. According to my research, the lyrics come from current events, re-telling the stories that affected the lives of the people of Ponce. It began as a way for people of low socio-economic status to express themselves and share their stories.

Aside from illustrating the plenas, Tufiño’s mural—grandiose in size and thematic scale—operates on several levels to create meaning. The existence of the mural itself is a testament to Puerto Rican culture. It was created during the 1950s, the beginning of a movement to call attention to and celebrate the island’s unique heritage. The creation of Mural La Plena marks an acknowledgement that Puerto Rico has a distinct and singular identity, separate from the American and Spanish cultures imposed on the island by colonization.

On another level, the mural also highlights the importance of plena as a cultural artifact. It’s important to remember that plena began as subversive art form; it was not considered “respectable” until wealthy Puerto Ricans began to listen to and enjoy it. Although plena was well established by the time Tufiño created Mural La Plena, the monumental nature of his work supports the notion that plena is legitimate art, worthy of respect and study. At its base, the mural celebrates the lives of art of everyday people.

Key Showing Which Plenas are Represented in the Mural
Source: Personal Photo

Key Showing Which Plenas are Represented in the Mural
Source: Personal Photo

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.