TimeOut

An Obsessive Collector: Watermelons

A COLLECTION YOU COULDN'T IMAGINE

One of the great pleasures of traveling is coming across things you never imagined. One such experience happened to me this week. I was humbled as a collector, and felt a need to share with the rest of our gang here at Watchprosite. While visiting Central Mexico, I was invited to an exhibit of one man's collection (obsession) of watermelons. Wilberth Azcorra, between gifts from others and his own works, has amassed approximately one million watermelons in the past 50 years.

My friend Carol supplied the shoes worn by Mr Watermelon Man, shown below.

These mounted pyramids are salt and pepper shakers.

Of course we took a break in the middle of the viewing for some refreshments. It was quite difficult to distinguish the buffet from the other artwork. The mescal was terrific (not shown).

LINK TO GALLERY

BACKGROUND ON THE ARTIST

The Watermelon House, by Charlie & Carol of Charlie's Digs.com m

Some years ago my collaborator Carol Hopkins invited me to "The Watermelon House" in Xochitepec, Morelos. She promised a magical afternoon reminiscent of Gabriel Garcia Marquez' "One Hundred Years of Solitude." I was not disappointed. Entering the world of "The Watermelon House" is a combination of Macondo, Wonderland, and Oz.

A marvelous meal was served. Each dish had watermelon as an ingredient, was served in a watermelon dish, or both. Everywhere I looked I saw a kaleidoscope of red, white, and green with watermelon art literally exploding from the walls and furniture.

Now you too can experience this watermelon world created by artist Wilberth Azcorra. An exhibit of his art, "Fractales de Sandias" (Watermelon Fractals), is on view in Cuernavaca. We attended the opening of the exhibit and arranged to have lunch with Wilberth a few days later.

Wilberth's current exhibit makes use of textiles, wood, tin, canvas, oils, and acrylics; all of it is watermelons, in every form. Applying the literary and musical term for a recurrent theme to art, Wilberth refers to watermelons as his leitmotif. Having chosen only one topic for his art:

"this has meant that I've found many ways to portray it, and I'm always finding more. I'm always challenged and find something new. If I said I'm satisfied with what I have created and I have found what I was searching for, it would be as if I were no longer living."

Wilberth remembers watermelon farms near Valladolid, Yucatan, the city where he was raised. "As children we were given the heart of the watermelon, its sweetest part. A great treat, even though adults said 'it's just water.'"

Not wanting to study to be a primary school teacher (Valladolid's only educational option), Wilberth attended the Escuela Nacional de Agricultura (ENA) at Chapingo. At 16 he set off alone to Mexico City.

A characteristic of the ENA (now Chapingo Autonomous University), is that all students are on full scholarship and may live in student housing on campus -- a boon to a teenager needing to cover all of his own expenses. Wilberth studied there two years before deciding that as much as he loved watermelons, growing them was not in his future.

He left to study philosophy and letters at the National Autonomous University. Wilberth entered artist Angela Gurria's weekly printmaking workshop where he worked to cover his tuition. Gurria's assigned homework was to bring a print to the next session.

After a few sessions the other students teased Wilberth with "you're not going to bring another watermelon next time; are you?" But, sure enough, his art was watermelon after watermelon.

Gurria then said "If you want to continue in this workshop you must have an exhibit."

"But where will I exhibit, Maestra?" asked the student.

"Find somewhere," was the teacher's reply.

Wilberth found a restaurant called "La Sandia" (the watermelon). It gladly made wall space available.

Maestra Gurria then told him, "That's not enough. You need to exhibit frequently. At least once every two years."

And with ever more varied exhibits, over 50 years Wilberth has exhibited, in big cities and small towns. His current exhibit is in the State of Morelos' largest city. His next exhibit will be in Chiconcuac Morelos during the Days of the Dead.

After our lunch, I drove Wilberth back to the Watermelon House. The Watermelon House not only features Wilberth's work but hundreds if not thousands of watermelon gifts received by this avid collector. He asked what I'd like to drink. Spotting a watermelon on the kitchen counter I knew there was only one appropriate answer: "agua de sandía".

Wilberth's home in Xochitepec, with it's Yucatecan ambience, is open on request to groups of 10 or more for an exceptional Yucatecan meal with a watermelon flair accompanied by marvelous, thought-provoking conversation. Keep it in mind when traveling to Xochicalco, Taxco, Acapulco, or as an excursion from nearby Cuernavaca.

Carol reading a tribute to Wilbur (in white shirt) while the rest of us eat watermelon.

An Obsessive Collector: Watermelons

An Obsessive Collector: Watermelons

When you think you've seen it all ;)

OMG!!! So many watermelons... but what about the pips ;-)

I believe there is no wife.... [nt]

May be this explain that :-)

Just when you think you've seen it all ...

I like the fruit, but wow, such a strange obsession.

Yes, but

Indeed. Pre-Internet, watch collecting was a much less accessibly hobby.