Alebrije / Woodcarving

Pedro Linares, is recognized as the creator of the "Alebrijes" both the word and the Mexican handicraft elaborated in painted paper with vibrant colors that represent imaginary animals with physiognomic elements of several different animals. Legend has it that Linares, a cardboard maker by trade, fell unconscious and in a deep sleep, fantastic and colorful creatures were revealed to him, which in his delirium he named shouting "Alebrijes! Alebrijes! Once recovered, Linares molded in paper those figures of his delirium giving origin to the famous alebrijes that represent all the surrealistic character of Mexican popular art in fantastic animals in which the real zoomorphic characteristics are mixed with those created by the imagination, mythical figures full of great color in papier-mâché and cardboard. The Mexican state of Oaxaca is recognized for its culture and artistic traditions, in the region of the Central Valleys more than 20 years ago, a new form of craftsmanship emerged. Figures carved in copal wood, in the form of fantastic animals, mythical figures such as mermaids and dragons, human-animal hybrids. Manuel Jiménez, from San Antonio Arrazola is the creator of the wood carvings of fantastic animals or "alebrijes" carved in copal wood, representing fantastic or real figures, with bright colors and representing the Oaxacan tradition and identity. This alebrije is an authentic Oaxacan carving completely hand made and hand painted with acrylic paint. It is carved from a single piece of copal tree wood and represents a gazelle decorated with traditional Zapotec symbols in a multicolored palette that contrasts with the black base. Generally, the handicraft is produced in small towns or indigenous communities, there are some varieties that come from larger populations such as rural settlements. On the one hand, the indigenous, who living in an isolated environment produces objects for his personal use, on the other hand, the artisan of the small community, who in his time after the field takes advantage of various materials from the natural environment that surrounds him to transform them into artistic objects, intended to get through them, the only cash income for their economy. Finally, the artisan who in cities dedicates his total time, talent and artistic faculties to produce handicrafts for sale. San Antonio Arrazola is a small community with several family workshops, where the creation of these magnificent alebrijes carved in copal wood has become a family process. Through traditional models, the artisan begins as a child to acquire the dexterity and aesthetic notion within the artisan specialty of his family, contributing with simple tasks to its elaboration; young people, women and adults, around the father or grandfather transmitter of their art, continue the uninterrupted current of the tradition.