RIYADH: In the Mexico section of the Saudi International Handicrafts Week, known as Banan, the distance between Riyadh and Mexico’s southern and western states seemed to shrink into a single thread of clay, color and craft.
Aida Aquino Boyo from Oaxaca and Cecilia Cortes Morales from Michoacan stood as unofficial ambassadors, each carrying the heritage of their region, according to a Saudi Press Agency report.
The event, organized in Riyadh by the Ministry of Culture’s Heritage Commission from Nov. 13-26, featured more than 400 artisans from over 40 countries.
The commission’s planning made the cultural exchange possible, turning Banan into a seamless space where global artistic experiences meet and artisans feel their work is honored.
Boyo shaped clay as though preserving a collective memory. Her pieces begin as simple lumps of clay before going through kneading, shaping, drying, coloring, polishing and firing to gain their final form. Her precision reflects Oaxaca’s long-celebrated artisan traditions.
The artisan said she came to the Kingdom hoping visitors would understand how distant communities create beauty and express identity through craft.
She added that the invitation was unexpected and deeply meaningful for someone who has spent her life among clay and kilns.
Across the pavilion, Morales shared a different but equally rich story. For 34 years, she has specialized in colored ironwork made from overlapping metal strips.
She starts her process like drawing on paper, but instead cuts, shapes and sculpts iron with precision. Each strip is colored and assembled into intricate layers that form the final piece after days of meticulous work.
Banan coincides with the Year of Handicrafts 2025 and is part of a national effort to support and empower artisans economically and culturally.
