CUERNO DE CHIVO
Butterflies vs cartels
Cuerno de Chivo is Bran's profound reflection on the drug trade in Mexico. The title, meaning "goat’s horn," is a colloquial term for the AK-47, a weapon deeply symbolic of the violence intertwined with cocaine production and distribution, and the countless lives affected by it.
This artwork is crafted using a real decommissioned short-barreled AK-47 Draco, meticulously embellished with vibrant Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus). Monarch butterflies, when preserved away from direct sunlight, can maintain their beauty for decades—some of the butterflies used in this piece date back to 1956. Bran's careful attention to detail transforms the weapon into a striking juxtaposition of violence and fragile beauty.
The Monarch butterfly holds deep cultural and ecological significance in Mexico. Each year, these extraordinary creatures undertake a remarkable migration, traveling over 3,000 miles along the west coast of America to return to their overwintering grounds in Mexico. Historically, the Maya people believed these butterflies were the returning souls of the dead, further enriching their cultural symbolism.
Tragically, the regions these butterflies migrate to are also sites of drug production, which has caused devastating environmental consequences. Deforestation and chemical pollution from the drug trade have destroyed the Monarch butterfly sanctuaries. Once, vibrant clouds of orange could be seen dancing among the trees, a Disney-like natural wonder. Now, due to habitat destruction, this awe-inspiring spectacle is vanishing.
Between November and February, millions of Monarch butterflies historically migrated to the fir trees of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, roughly 100 kilometers northwest of Mexico City. However, in recent years, the number of Monarchs arriving has plummeted, threatening to erase this natural phenomenon altogether.
Scientists estimate the size of Mexico’s Monarch colonies has decreased by 80% since the mid-1990s. Where these colonies once covered up to 18 hectares, today they average only two. The decline is driven by multiple factors, including pesticide use and land clearing in the United States, climate change, and illegal logging in Mexico. According to WWF Mexico, over 2,000 hectares of forest within the core of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve have been lost to illegal logging, with recent problems also arising in the outer buffer zones.
Cuerno de Chivo is a hauntingly beautiful commentary on this tragic intersection of violence, environmental destruction, and cultural loss. Bran's work reminds us of the fragility of nature and the profound consequences of human actions. Through this piece, Bran invites reflection on the intertwined narratives of the drug trade, deforestation, and the endangered migration of the Monarch butterfly—one of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders.
BULLET FILLINGS:
MILKWEED SEEDS: Represents the fragility of the Monarch’s survival, as deforestation destroys their essential food source and habitat.
LOVE HEARTS: Symbolizes lost innocence and hope amidst the violence of the drug trade.
CHAMPAGNE LABEL: Highlights the opulence enjoyed by drug lords, contrasting with the devastation their actions cause.
BLOOD: Reflects the human and environmental cost of the drug trade, including lives lost and ecosystems destroyed.
COPAL: Represents spiritual cleansing and the cultural connection to Monarch butterflies as souls of the dead.
PESOS & DOLLAR: Symbolizes the greed and global economy driving the cycle of violence and destruction.
COCAINE: The root of the drug trade’s violence, linking addiction and exploitation to the AK-47.
TREE: Represents the Monarchs’ habitat and the balance between destruction and the potential for regeneration.
LOCATION: MONACO
PRICE: POA
GALLERY: INFO@THEHOUSEOFFINEART.COM
STUDIO: INFO@ARTTODISARM.COM
WHATSAPP: +1 702 613 8820
