
Einar and Jamex de la Torre
Alebrijado, 2024
Blown glass and mixed media sculpture
29 x 14 x 5 in
73.7 x 35.6 x 12.7 cm
73.7 x 35.6 x 12.7 cm
The de la Torre brothers pay homage to Alebrijes, the Aztec spirit guides depicted in the 20-day cycle of the Zapotec calendar. Being strongly connected to nature, the Aztecs created...
The de la Torre brothers pay homage to Alebrijes, the Aztec spirit guides depicted in the 20-day cycle of the Zapotec calendar. Being strongly connected to nature, the Aztecs created these symbolic creatures, mixing two living animals with anthropomorphic characteristics. In the piece, a glass-blown anthropomorphized man-goat with horns and ears is mounted on a silver platter, surrounded by plastic ducks, roses, and anatomical diagrams of human flesh. An angel figurine sits atop the head with a plastic eyeball staring back at the viewer, contrasting the Aztec mythology apparent in the piece with a Catholic relic. The piece comments on the contrasting image-saturated cultures of Mexico, where contemporary artists try to keep alive depictions of alebrijes and the U.S.
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