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Art History Virtual Exhibition

Animalito Sculpture of a Cat by Candido Ortega Mendez Zapotec culture Early 21st century Wood, glue, and acrylic paint, L. 14 cm x W. 2.6 cm x H. 7.3 cm BFPC collection #1994.1

Zapotec Animalito Sculptures: Researched by Hannah Ferguson

October, 2020 by Sarah Teel

Animalitos, along with the fantasy figures known Alebrijes, are Mexican folk art sculptures produced by the Zapotec culture artisans of the Oaxaca region.  While these sculptures originated as folk art that people carved for amusement, in the 1980s the figures became popular in the tourist trade, and the Oaxacan artisans developed many different forms to appeal to visitors seeking locally produced artwork.  Both Animalitos and Alebrijes tend to be highly individualized figures of animals and animal-like creatures, sometimes more naturalistic, sometimes highly stylized forms; the surface designs, meanwhile, are stylized, taking the form of elaborate and detailed floral and geometric motifs.  These figures are still carved from local copal wood today, but bright acrylic house paints have replaced the earlier water-based paints, which faded over time.  While the Alebrije sculptures are often inspired by traditional Zapotec mythological creatures, the Animalito sculptures may represent common animals, regional unusual wildlife, or simply favorite pets, such as this cat figure.

 

Animalito Sculpture of a Cat
by Candido Ortega Mendez
Zapotec culture
Early 21st century
Wood, glue, and acrylic paint, L. 14 cm x W. 2.6 cm x H. 7.3 cm
BFPC collection #1994.1

 

 

For more information, you may contact the researcher(s) noted in the title of this exhibit entry, or Dr. Billie Follensbee, the professor of the course, at BillieFollensbee@MissouriState.edu

Filed Under: 2017 Spring, ART 485: Art of Mesoamerica Tagged With: animalito, animalito sculpture, candido orteg mendez, cat, early 21st century art, zapotec culture

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Categories

  • 2017 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2017 Spring, ART 485: Art of Mesoamerica
  • 2018 Fall, ART 385: Art of the Americas
  • 2019 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2019 Spring, ART 485: Art of Mesoamerica
  • 2020 Fall, ART 487: Art of the Americas

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