The art of alebrijes began when a Mexican man named Pedro Linares Lopez was suffering from a severe illness. Inspired by the figurines he saw in dreams, he molded them and painted them, as he remembered. He then wanted to show these figurines to as many people as he could, from the members of his family to people outside of Mexico. Today, these figurines are treasured by many people throughout Mexico and even beyond.
Alebrijes
The Alebrijes are a Mexican art movement that drew attention to the zoomorphic Cartonera figures. The work of Pedro Linares López is among the most famous examples of zoomorphic Cartonera figures in the world. It is impossible to understand the Alebrijes without an understanding of the history and culture of Mexico.
The idea for the colorful sculptures first came to Pedro Linares after a feverish dream about strange creatures. The film helped him gain fame and a worldwide following, and many of his descendants continue to create the art.
During the 1930s, Alebrijes were popular in Mexico. A Mexican artist named Pedro Linares developed them as pinatas and carnival masks. He later created these colorful creatures from papier-mache. Famous Mexican artists such as Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo bought them and celebrated their works in the national art world.
In 1936, during a febrile delirium, Pedro Linares escaped death and had visions of extraneous creatures. His dream consisted of seeing animals mixed amongst other animals, and he cried out, “Alebrijes!”
His father was a papier-mache sculptor
Born in Mexico City in 1906, Chrispen honed his papier-mache sculpting skills under the guidance of his father, a well-known papier-mache sculptor. By the age of twelve, he was already creating traditional skeletal figures for the Day of the Dead. A dream in 1945 inspired him to begin creating alebrijes.
Paper-mache is a material that is infinitely moldable. It comes from the earth as a mix of raw minerals and tree pulp, and has a history of incarnations from industrial printing presses to breakfast tables and garbage bins.
Maqbool has won numerous awards for his creations and is known for his innovative designs and use of colour schemes. In recent years, he has expanded his work to include pieces on various surfaces. In 2008, Maqbool was awarded a Unesco seal of excellence for his handicrafts. Although he is well known for his unique pieces, he has been critical of the government for failing to recognize the unique beauty of his art.
His dream of a forest
“His dream of a forest” is a story about a man who had a near-death experience. He was conscious when he woke up, but his family did not believe he was still alive.
Upon awakening, he was filled with visions and the drive to revolutionize the art world. In one of his dreams, he sees himself dying and being reborn in a mountainous region. He re-creates this dream by making paper-mache sculptures that were later known as alebrije, or “alebrije,” which became a staple of Mexican folk art.
For his “Alebrije” creations, Linares began with the armatures of animals from his dreams. Then, he applied layers of newspaper or plain brown paper until they became firm and hard. These sculptures were left to dry thoroughly. The best time to work on them is when the sun is shining because this helps the process. After they have completely dried, the sculptor then paints intricate patterns onto them.
His dream of a forest by Pedro Linres is one of the most famous examples of Mexican folk art. It depicts a forest filled with mystical creatures. These colorful sculptures have a fascinating story. In the 1930s, a paper-mache artist named Pedro Linares dreamed of a forest filled with mysterious creatures. He saw a winged donkey, a rooster with bull horns, and a lion with a eagle head. The rest is history.
His fame
After his early days as a Judas figure maker, Pedro Linares turned to painting. He made Judas figures, which are made out of cartons during the Easter season in Mexico. In addition to his artistic career, he created many figurines for famous Mexican artists, such as Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. He studied at the Academia de San Carlos School of Fine Arts in Mexico City. His fame is based on the Alebrije, which he titled Alebrije (a lone goat) and which was created after a feverish episode.
Despite this early obscurity, Pedro Linares’ work continues to attract collectors from around the world. Inspired by the dream, he decided to make these mythical creatures into sculptures.
His death
At the age of thirty, Pedro Linares begins to suffer from a rare form of schizophrenia, and his condition rapidly worsens. His dream experiences include visions of strange beings he calls “Alebrijes.” These creatures make howling sounds and resemble animals that he had previously dreamed of. Pedro Linares’ death is still a source of apprehension, but his dream has a profound impact on his life.
Despite his advanced age, he continued to create his artwork. His paintings and sculptures became highly prized, selling for up to $3,500 each. In addition to the San Diego Museum of Man, the Smithsonian and the Indianapolis Children’s Museum had featured his work. His death came a year after he had won Mexico’s national arts and science award for the popular arts and traditions category. Although he died in 1990, his legacy lives on.
The brightly colored sculptures of fantasy creatures, known as alebrijes, were a direct result of Linares’ illness. He spent his early days as a carnival mask maker, and began to hallucinate visions of strange creatures with wild and unnatural colors. He began to make these sculptures from cardboard and paper mache. His creations gained attention when a gallery owner discovered them. Diego Rivera and Frida Kaho commissioned many of his works, and his name is still synonymous with them.
His book is available in both paperback and Kindle formats. It also contains an illustrated biography of his life. This is one of the few works of art that has survived from a Mexican artist who died at the age of thirty. It’s a fascinating read for anyone who loves art and Mexico. Its content is truly remarkable.