The origin of alebrijes goes back to Mexico City in the 1930s, when a cartonero (papier-mâché artisan) named Pedro Linares López began creating fantastic creatures inspired by a vivid dream. While sick with a high fever, he imagined himself walking through a strange forest filled with hybrid animals that cried out the word “alebrijes.”
OEM: De cartón y papel a alebrijes: taller de cartonería en Ixhuatlán ofrece aprendizaje y desestrés sin costo
De cartón y papel a alebrijes: taller de cartonería en Ixhuatlán ofrece aprendizaje y desestrés sin costo
Another way the community competes is through its annual festival "Cuna de los Alebrijes" (Cradle of the Alebrijes), which is held each year to promote its figures.
Alebrijes are hand-carved and hand-painted wooden sculptures created primarily by artisans in San Antonio Arrazola and San Martín Tilcajete, Oaxaca. Made from copal wood and decorated with intricate Zapotec and Mixtec patterns, each piece is a one-of-a-kind artistic creation.
Alebrijes weren’t part of the older Oaxaca Día de Muertos traditions, but they have made their way into modern-day celebrations. As part of mainstream pop culture today, they have made their way into Day of the Dead-themed films, like Pixar’s Coco.
Alebrijes are sculptures of colorful and whimsical-looking spirit animals that have become an important part of Mexican culture. Originated in the 1930s in Mexico City, alebrijes are known for their imaginative combinations of animal features, often resulting in surreal and visually captivating forms.
Although the creator of alebrijes was from Mexico City, the alebrijes that are famous today are mostly developed in San Martin Tilcajete, Oaxaca, also known as the "land of alebrijes."