WHY THE PREHISPANIC OUTFITS?
Mictlanticutly & Mictlantizihuatl
The guest artists on stage, dressed in prehispanic attire, embody the gods of Xibalba/Mictlan. Their names are Mictlanticutly (male entity) and Mictlantizihuatl (female entity). As rulers of all souls in the Mayan and Aztec underworld, they are the ones who summon the spirits we wish to honor on the altar-stage — whether through song, dance, or visual presence. Watch their movements closely: every gesture commands the souls to traverse the bridge between Xibalba and the altar-stage, guiding them to appear, to be remembered, and to return to the underworld. Their presence orchestrates the rhythm of memory, life, and the eternal journey of the spirits.
Where Xibalba is taking place?
Xibalba unfolds on the final segment of the bridge that, each early November, stretches from the Mayan and Aztec pyramids in the underworld to our altar, which becomes the stage in the living world. Our audience stands along the path, witnessing the parade of souls crossing the bridge — from Xibalba, to be remembered, and back to Xibalba, to rest once more.
Who came up with the idea of Xibalba in Oslo?
Jonas Roman Cadena
The renowned visual artist Jonas Cadena, one of the members of Mexperience came up with the idea 10 years ago. We realized we can adapt the concept every year with new artists and new memories. Check his web page: https://www.artcadena.net/
Why are all artists wearing catrin/catrina makeup?
Every guest artist is representing a soul that is visiting us from Xibalba/Mictlan and they are not alive so they should represent a Catrin/Catrina in the Mexican traditional way. On backstage we are preparing each of them to be ready to follow the underworld gods commands from the Altar/Stage.
Why we have international artists on this Mexican Celebration?
As Xibalba continues to grow and reach beyond borders, we also carry with us the memories of those who shaped its spirit. As an example: In 2024, we lost our dear friend and Brazilian friend Tania Oliver — a luminous presence whose energy still echoes in our work. To honor her memory, we have invited Brazilian artist Bruna Santana to sing the songs Tania loved, letting her voice weave remembrance into melody, and love into sound.
Which artists are we going to remember this 2025?
What our guests artist can do?
We invite all our guest artists to get into the Xibalba mood, so they should perform under the following rules. 1.- A Mexican traditional dia de muertos performance. As an example: Singing la llorona. 2.- A performance that tells us how the guest artists culture deal with death. As an example: singing Não Deixe o Samba Morrer to bring Brasil to Xibalba. 3.- A performance that remembers a death artist thru their work or their tastes. As an example: A song from Ozzy Osbourne.