Abstract

Mexico City was founded on an island of the lake basin of Texcoco around 1325, since the founding of Mexico Tenochtitlan it was the interest of its residents to amend the natural conditions of the ecosystem.

One by one, their leaders were extending their gain ground against the water surface, to build their temples and causeways, at first it was developed in a sustainable manner, “chinampas” or floating gardens where developed, creating a very successful method of agriculture due to the constant irrigation of artificial canals that supplied constant humidity to the Milpas. The great Lake Texcoco, was yielding little by little over the centuries to population growth and urban sprawl. With the arrival of the Spanish and their conquest of the city (which was partly due to its lake condition) the valley had an accelerated change. In a phased manner the basin was dried, steadily expanding its territory, the Spanish used the indigenous to fill the lake, the canal systems and the floating gardens were destroyed, causing floods and droughts, the old drainage systems were modified. With the independence of the Spanish realm, we have the dependency on ecclesiastical and political institutions that had no interest whatsoever to be in harmony with nature, but to conquer it.

• Arcangel Constantini (MX) is a multifaceted artist and independent curator, particularly interested in obsolescence of technological constructions and ideas to redefine them in an artistic context. He curates the cyberlounge of Museo Tamayo, and Festival transitio MX; director of the emerging gallery ¼. arc-data.net

Full text (PDF) p.  440-442