Alebrije, Mochuelo de Atenea / aqua

Obra Original

Técnica: Acrílico y tinta, Método Zentangle

Soporte: Tela

Medidas: 40 cm x 30 cm

2021

Athena's Mochuelo is a magical creature in the vast Mexican imagination, born from the fusion of fantastical beings, in this case, the owl and the monkey. What sets this alebrije apart from traditional Mexican craftsmanship is the use of painted tesserae employing the zentangle method, renowned for its meditative qualities. In Greek mythology, the owl was the loyal companion of Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and Creativity. This mythological connection deeply draws me to this unique and fantastical creature. I am confident that in my artwork, these beings will continue to appear and evolve, mirroring the progression of my artistic journey.

Mochuelo de Atenea, un ser mágico en el vasto imaginario mexicano, emerge de la fusión de creaturas fantásticas, en este caso, el mochuelo y el mono. Lo que distingue a este alebrije de la tradición artesanal mexicana es la aplicación de teselas pintadas con el método zentangle, conocido por su uso en la meditación.   En la mitología griega, el mochuelo fue la leal mascota de Atenea, la Diosa de la Sabiduría y la Creatividad. Este lazo mitológico me atrae profundamente hacia esta creatura única y fantástica.

Estoy segura de que en mi obra, estos seres seguirán apareciendo y evolucionando, siguiendo el curso de mi propia evolución artística

Today, Alebrijes are like dreams painted in vibrant colors, an undeniable part of Mexico's cultural and artistic imagination (Vargas, 2021). These magical and somewhat surreal beings are like creatures from another world, part zoomorphic, part mutant, all with a touch of fantasy. But what's most astonishing is that they not only live in the imagination but come to life as beautiful and vibrant figures.

 As treasures of traditional Mexican art, Alebrijes have the gift of warding off evil spirits, especially those that might seem a bit "monstrous." According to Zapotec mythology, each person is born with a special friend, a little animal called a "nahual" or "alebrije," which guides and cares for them throughout life (Ochoa, 2020).

 What makes these beings even more special is their display of bright colors, each with its own meaning. Green connects us with nature and empathy, pink is the symbol of love, orange releases our negative emotions, and yellow is the expression of our feelings, joy, and luxuries. Blue immerses us in tranquility, while brown connects us with the earth and animals (Muñoz, 2021).

As George Bernard Shaw said, "imagination is the beginning of creation." So, by imagining these magical beings, we pursue our dreams and, in the end, create something beautiful.