Dreaming In Techno Color

Monumental Alebrije Art Parade Exhibit, Mexico City

Alebrijes are brightly colored sculptures of fantasy creatures. This bizarre and exciting art form is the result of an illness. Artist Pedro Linares began his career in Mexico City, making pinatas and carnival masks. At the age of 30, he fell ill with a very high fever that caused him to hallucinate. In this feverish state of mind, he would dream of wild and unnaturally colored creatures and would hear the voices of people yelling "alebrije" (a nonsense word of no meaning). After Pedro recovered, he began to create his dreams using paper mache, cardboard and brightly colored paints. His work was discovered by a gallery owner in Cuernavaca, Mexico which led to commissioned work by the famous artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. In 1975, a documentary made on the man and his art brought Pedro Linares worldwide exposure. But, it was not until 1990, at the age of 84, and two years before Pedro Linares' death, that he would achieve international success when he received Mexico's National Arts and Science Award in Popular Arts and Traditions.

Monumental Alebrije Art Parade Exhibit, Mexico City

Monumental Alebrije Art Parade Exhibit, Mexico City

Monumental Alebrije Art Parade Exhibit, Mexico City

Today, Pedro Linares' descendants as well as other artists carry on the tradition of Alebrije Art. For mainstream appeal and purchase, the art form has also been adapted onto wood carvings of various sizes. The more "monster" looking pieces are said to scare away bad spirits and protect the home...........

La Senora