Original_alebrijes Alebrije

paper mache alebrije in progress @ workshop @ museo de arte popular in mexico city



alebrije named michin rojo salute pedro linares

alebrijes originated in mexico city in 20th century, in 1936. first alebrijes, name itself, attributed pedro linares, artisan méxico city (distrito federal), specialized in making piñatas, carnival masks , “judas” figures cartonería (a kind of papier-mâché). sold work in markets such 1 in la merced.

in 1936, when 30 years old, linares fell ill high fever, caused him hallucinate. in fever dreams, in forest rocks , clouds, many of turned wild, unnaturally colored creatures, featuring wings, horns, tails, fierce teeth , bulging eyes. heard crowd of voices repeating nonsense word “alebrije.” after recovered, began re-create creatures d seen, using papier-mâché , cardboard. eventually, cuernavaca gallery owner discovered work. brought him attention of diego rivera , frida kahlo, began commissioning more alebrijes. tradition grew considerably after british filmmaker judith bronowski s 1975 documentary on linares.

linares received mexico s national arts , sciences award in popular arts , traditions category in 1990, 2 years before died. inspired other alebrije artists, , linares’ work became prized both in mexico , abroad. rivera said no 1 else have fashioned strange figures requested; work done linares rivera displayed @ anahuacalli museum in mexico city.

the descendents of pedro linares, many of whom live in mexico city near sonora market, carry on tradition of making alebrijes , other figures cardboard , papier-mâché. customers have included rolling stones , david copperfield. stones gave family tickets show. various branches of family occupy row of houses on same street. each family works in own workshops in own houses lend each other hand big orders. demand rises , falls; there no work , families work 18 hours day.

the original designs pedro linares alebrijes have fallen public domain. however, according chapter 3 of 1996 mexican federal copyright law, illegal sell crafts made in mexico without acknowledging community , region from, or alter crafts in way interpreted damaging culture’s reputation or image. law applied commercialization of crafts public exhibition , use of images. however, law enforced; crafts sellers in mexico give origin of products from. name “alebrijes” used wide variety of crafts though linares family has sought gain control on name. family says pieces not made them , not come mexico city should state so. linares family continues export work important galleries showing mexican art worldwide. example beasts , bones: cartonería of linares family in carlsbad, california featured seventy alebrijes , popular extended several weeks.

however, because variety of artists , artisans have been creating alebrijes in own styles, craft has become part of mexico s folk art repertoire. no 2 alebrijes alike. outside of linares family, 1 of noted alebrije artists susana buyo, learned work cardboard , papier-mâché @ 1 of linares family workshops. known “señora de los monstruos” local children in condesa, upscale neighborhood of mexico city, native argentinan , naturalized mexican citizen. work can found across mexico city , elsewhere, such in europe. work differs of linares in many of designs include human contours , many expressions more tender terrifying. uses nontraditional materials such feathers, fantasy stones , modern resins, both novelty , durability.

don quixote jose guadalupe posada

while pedro linares dreamed of creatures, did not surface in vacuum. similarities , parallels can drawn between alebrijes , various supernatural creatures mexico’s indigenous , european past. in pre-hispanic art, brightly-colored images fantastic , macabre. influences mexico city’s chinatown, in dragons, , gothic art such gargoyles can seen. red cardboard demons called judas, linares made, still made burned in mexico during holy week in purification rituals. more recent predecessors in mexican culture, artists julio ruelas , graphics artist/commentator josé guadalupe posada, created fantastic , terrifying images. alebrijes, monsters, have gained reputation “scaring away bad spirits” , protecting home. some, master craftsman christian david mendez, claim there mysticism involved in making , owning of alebrijes, parts of animals representing human characteristics.

monumental alebrije named la urbe in zocalo of mexico city during 2009 parade

a more recent phenomenon, annual monumental alebrije parade, has been sponsored museo de arte popular in mexico city since 2007. 2009 parade featured more 130 giant alebrijes made of wood, cardboard, paper, wire , other materials, , marched zocalo in historic center of city angel of independence monument on paseo de la reforma. entries artisans, artists, families , groups each year have gotten bigger, more creative , more numerous, names like

devora stein uriel lópez baltazar,
alebrhijos santiago goncen,
totolina , arte lado c,
ah1n1 taller don guajo,
volador , taller de plástica el volador,
la mula del 6 daniel martínez bartelt,
la gárgola de la atlántida juan carlos islas and
alebrije luchador ricardo rosales,

and accompanied bands playing popular mexican music. @ end of parade, pieces lined on paseo de la reforma judging , displayed 2 weeks. 2010 alebrije parade had themes related bicentennial of independence of mexico , centennial of mexican revolution, although walter boelsterly, head of museo de artes populares, concedes such may require bit of tolerance because can lead revered figures such miguel hidalgo , ignacio allende animal parts. however, states aim celebrate , not mock. in addition annual parade, museum has sponsored alebrije shows such three-meter tall alebrije captured attention @ feria international del libro in bogotá. word “alebrije” not known in colombia, locals dubbed “dragoncito” (little dragon). along “dragoncito” 150 other, smaller pieces of mexican crafts shown.