When I see art, I always wonder about the story behind it. When I stumble upon new traditions, meaning those not based on ancient rituals, I wonder about the people who dedicated their lives to creating them. Before coming to Oaxaca, I had never heard of alebrijes; now, I can’t imagine a world where they don’t take up space in my mind. These figures and the artists that created them are now a standard to which I compare other art pieces. Their bright and bold colors sit in perfect harmony, neatly inviting you to an imaginative world. These figures inspire me, and I can’t wait to take one home!
I learned about the art of creating alebrijes, hand-carved wooden figures depicting saints, myths and animals. These figures are adored because of their unique color palettes, mythic representations and for the artistry required to create each piece. Each alebrije is hand-carved and hand-painted, and the artists are skilled enough to carve and paint even the smallest details on the wood. I am impressed by this tradition because of the skill and precision it requires. The wood is fresh and therefore very hard, yet, the artist makes it look easy to carve these elaborate figures. What must be even more difficult is keeping your hand steady to paint the precise and uniform lines throughout the curved figure.
