Museum exhibit details close relationship with nature

Terra Maya, a photo exhibit on the centrality of nature in Mayan culture, opened at the University Museum last week. Anthropologist and photographer Peter Harrison composed the photographic study of the Central American Maya culture from pictures he took in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize over 21 years. The mix of color and black and white photographs captures the beauty of the local scenery, but the exhibition attempts to go beyond simple visual presentation. With his choice of subject matter, Harrison tries to give the viewer a clearer understanding of the closely linked relationship that existed between the Mayan and nature. The collection shows the depth of the effect of the land on religion, sustenance and shelter. Mayan adaptations to the environment is a key subject Harrison deals with. An example is seen in the sacred place Mayans gave to the ceiba tree -- the tree of life -- as portrayed in the exhibition of the lone ceiba tree in the middle of land cleared for agriculture. The intricate stonework featured in Harrison's collection shows the Mayan fascination with the darker side of nature. The deadly jaguar, regarded as the "king of beasts" and the symbol of royalty, is prominent among the natural motifs used by the Mayan craftsmen. The most dangerous animals of the jungle are likewise merged into an ultimate beast used by the Mayans to decorate their facades. The sacrificial themes in Mayan art can also be seen in the photographs on display. By visually cataloging the close harmony between the Mayans and nature, the exhibition employs pictures in an attempt to explain how the powerful empire eventually collapsed from the mismanagement of the land. The exhibition will be at the Museum until April 4.