Ahuianimeh or joy givers were the courtesans of Ancient Mexico. They sang and danced and were full of eroticism and sensuality. In special ceremonies, the ahuanimeh performed ritual dances in honor of the Teteo, and they were highly esteemed by the Mexica or Aztec society. Although some of them were considered to be sex workers by Spanish writers in the 16th century, they played a very important role in the ritual life of the Mexica.
In this painting, an elder ahuani (ahuani is singular for ahuianimeh), a retired xochihua or two-spirit person, prepares a younger ahuiani for an event. She might have been the favorite of a wealthy person, and thus lives luxuriously, training the future generations of ahuianimeh, acting as their "godmother". They are protected by Xochiquetzal, the Precious Flower, She Who Is Love, who appears as a jade statue in the back and whose face is painted at the top of the frame.
Ahuianimeh used to bear elaborate body paint and decorations. They used to paint their arms and faces with yellow pigment, and their hair with indigo to get a blue or purple color. Their mouth and teeth were painted red, and they had tattoos all over their bodies. In my painting, the tattoos are magical symbols to help her seduce her lover.
This is a scene of a loving tradition being transmitted, valued and appreciated, of a young student receiving both symbolically and physically, an important heritage.
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