Sixto-Juan Zavala - Yanaguana Garden

Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival

Research, Graphic design, Typeface design, Illustration, Collage

2023

In collaboration with Essentials Creative

Installation entrance at Yanaguana Garden in Hemisfair Park, San Antonio

Essentials Creative designed a site-specific installation called Yanaguana Garden for Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival 2023 in San Antonio, Texas. Taking inspiration from the Payaya people, the native people of the area, and San Antonio’s origin myths, the installation showcases illuminated tapestries on the arches of Yanaguana Garden in Hemisfair Park. 'Yanaguana' loosely translates to 'land of the spirit waters'.

Tapestries, front, in the daylight

These tapestries depict elements from the city’s oral stories, such as encounters between a waterbird and a blue panther, the creation of the river resembling the Eridanus constellation, and site-specific representations like the trumpet vine and the moth that relies on it. Native species like Texas wild rice, prickly pear, and purple coneflower, as well as celestial bodies like the moon and stars, are also included in the tapestries. By bringing to life the vibrant flora and fauna of the Yanaguana origin story, the installation creates a mystical ambiance that honors the land and its indigenous heritage.