Folk art made by hand

The Origin of Alebrijes: From a Dream in Mexico City to the Wood of Oaxaca

Did you think alebrijes were an ancient pre-Hispanic tradition? In this video, we debunk that myth and tell you how they actually emerged from a dream less than a hundred years ago. Key facts you’ll discover in this video: The true origin: Alebrijes are not pre-Hispanic; they were born from a fever less than a hundred years ago. The creator: They were dreamed up by Pedro Linares López, a cartonería artisan from Mexico City born in 1906, who during his illness saw impossible animals shouting the word "Alebrijes!". The original material: The first figures were made of wire, paper and paste, not wood. The wood of Oaxaca: Manuel Jiménez, from Arrazola, pioneered the carving of these figures in copal wood, and the name "alebrije" came to this Oaxacan tradition later on. The artisanal process: In woodcarving, the branch is in charge: the knot becomes the head and the fork becomes the legs, in a process involving weeks of drying, sanding and painting. The great myth: No alebrije is a nahual, since that is a completely different tradition. Cartonería and Oaxacan woodcarving are related by name, but they are not the same. Save this video by Xomec Zazani, and the next time you see one, ask about the workshop and the wood!.