Alebrije

A alebrije is a colorful animal-like fantasy figure from Mexico. Originally, the term was meant invented by Pedro Linares paper mache figures, today the term also includes Manuel Jiménez (1919-2005) made ​​famous wood carvings from Oaxaca.

Pappmachéfiguren from Mexico City

Pedro Linares (1906-1992) from Mexico City first presented traditional piñatas, carnival masks and puppets ago. Inspired by a dream, he began in 1936 with the production of decorative figures, which he called alebrijes. His Pappmachéfiguren had bright colors, complex shapes, wings, horns, tails, scary teeth and big eyes. A gallery of Cuernavaca discovered Linares ' figures and made them known all over the world. Linares was awarded for his work the Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes de la Rama VI, Artes Populares y Tradiciones, a prize from the State of Mexico for folk art.

Wooden figures from Oaxaca

Today, the name alebrije is also used to create fantastic wood carvings from Oaxaca. There, the figures are also animalitos, monos, or simply figuras. Manuel Jiménez (1919-2005) is considered the founder of the folk woodcarving in Oaxaca; he developed the formerly used simple figures to small, internationally recognized works of art. Now live in the villages of San Antonio Arrazola, San Martin Tilcajete, La Union and San Pedro Tejalapa Cajonos over 200 families from colorful wood carvings, including several internationally recognized artists, such as Jacobo Ángeles and Bertha Cruz. Also the descendants of Manuel Jiménez finished alebrijes in his style.