They are called AlebrijesI am colorful papier-mâché sculptures depicting fantastic animals. The word probably comes from the combination of the Spanish terms “Alegràa”, meaning joy, “Bruja”, meaning witch, and “Embije”, meaning to paint or color something.
Many think that this is an ancient traditional Mexican art, but in reality the first alebrije was born in 1936 from the hands of the artist Pedro Linares Làpezspecialized in papier-mâché processing.
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Pedro was born in Mexico City in 1906 and from an early age learned the art of papier-mâché processing from his father, producing traditional objects. Everything changed when in 1945 he became seriously ill with gastric ulcer and a strange vision appeared to him in a dream: he found himself in the middle of a strange forest surrounded by fantastic creatures such as donkeys with butterfly wings, roosters with bull horns, lions with eagle heads, who shouted a senseless word: “Alebrijes!”
Following his illness, Pedro decided to give life to those strange animals, but people were afraid of them. Over time he perfected them by introducing more captivating color combinations: this was how his fame progressively increased, to the point of attracting the admiration of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. When director Judith Bronowski dedicated a documentary to him in 1975, he gained international fame.
The Mexican artist Manuel Jimenez was a pupil of Linares, from whom he learned to make alebrijes, combining the ancient tradition of nahualesguide animals of the ancient Zapotecs, with the visions of the master.
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(@_murugiah)Alebrijes also appeared in the famous animated film “Coco”where they appear in the form of bioluminescent spiritual guides within the Land of the Dead, although in reality they have nothing to do with the Dìa de los muertos tradition.
Nowadays, imitations of Pedro Linares’ original works of art are numerous, and can be found especially in the Oaxaca region, where these creatures are often made by carving copal wood.
Ultimately, alebrijes masterfully blend imagination, craftsmanship and tradition, and with their hypnotic colors they conquer everyone who looks at them at first glance. Admiring them live must be a unique experience!
SOURCES: mezcalforlife
