Cultural metissage – the descriptive concept of hybrid phenomena on the peripheries of cultures
Cultural metissage – the descriptive concept of hybrid phenomena on the peripheries of cultures

Summary/Abstract: The term “metissage” in its original meaning had racial character. Later, the term estilo mestizo came into use, describing Latin American art in the period of Spanish domination, which appeared on the peripheries of the modern world, and whose features were acknowledged to be a mixture of European and Native American influences, particularly in reference to the architectural sculpture of the Peruvian highlands. I believe there are more phenomena within colonial art which can be described as “cultural metissage”, not necessarily due to their stylistic, formal features. One of them is the long-lasting tradition of creating objects decorated with feathers, which is probably echoed in the modern times. Finally, the concept of metissage has been adapted by experts on French culture and used to describe the phenomena which are typical of liminal zones, with hybrid features. Thus the notion of “cultural metissage”, separated from its originally racial connotations, began to describe marginal phenomena, mixtures which occur on the peripheries of cultures, regardless of their location. Finally, “cultural metissage” is a term denoting a kind of reflection and consideration, rather than the formal features of culture and art.

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