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| the Aguilar sisters, left to right, Guillermina, Irene, Concepción and Josefina, uncredited photographer |
El Dia de los Muertos has been celebrated throughout
Mexico and I'm thrilled to imagine the maze of ofrendas,
marigolds, sugar skulls and colorful clay figures filling
the streets of the village of Ocotlán de Morelos, near
Oaxaca, which is known as the home of fine artists such
as painter Rodolfo Morales and the Aguilar sisters who
are internationally known for the whimsical ceramic
figures they create. It all started almost fifty years ago
when Dona Isaura Alcántara Diaz lifted her work from
producing utilitarian day-to-day pots to devise a delightful
variety of red clay figures with the help of her husband,
Jesús Aguilar Revilla who sketched
Mexico and I'm thrilled to imagine the maze of ofrendas,
marigolds, sugar skulls and colorful clay figures filling
the streets of the village of Ocotlán de Morelos, near
Oaxaca, which is known as the home of fine artists such
as painter Rodolfo Morales and the Aguilar sisters who
are internationally known for the whimsical ceramic
figures they create. It all started almost fifty years ago
when Dona Isaura Alcántara Diaz lifted her work from
producing utilitarian day-to-day pots to devise a delightful
variety of red clay figures with the help of her husband,
Jesús Aguilar Revilla who sketched
and painted the new designs.
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| Guillermina at work |
 |
| Day of the Dead figure by Guillermina |
Training with clay since their childhood, Dona Isaura's
four daughters - Guillermina, Josefina, Irene and
Concepción - learned their parents' art developing
through the years a unique style. They carry on the
labor-intensive craft (they have to dig clay then come
the drying, sifting and kneading before carving,
kiln-baking and painting) that involves the whole
family but most remarkably, they came to inspire in
turn their own children and grandchildren
four daughters - Guillermina, Josefina, Irene and
Concepción - learned their parents' art developing
through the years a unique style. They carry on the
labor-intensive craft (they have to dig clay then come
the drying, sifting and kneading before carving,
kiln-baking and painting) that involves the whole
family but most remarkably, they came to inspire in
turn their own children and grandchildren
establishing a dynasty of gifted artists.
 |
| Earthenware water pitcher by Guillermina |
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| Josefina's typical woman figure |
Although Dona Isaura never received the recognition
she deserved, the Aguilar sisters are probably Mexico's
most beloved folk artists whose art is deeply influenced
by the cultural richness of pueblo life: traditions, myths
and legends, cultural and religious rituals like the just
gone Day of the Dead. These fully accomplished
artisans gained worldwide acclaim thanks to colorful,
often humorous handcrafted figures with
she deserved, the Aguilar sisters are probably Mexico's
most beloved folk artists whose art is deeply influenced
by the cultural richness of pueblo life: traditions, myths
and legends, cultural and religious rituals like the just
gone Day of the Dead. These fully accomplished
artisans gained worldwide acclaim thanks to colorful,
often humorous handcrafted figures with
a quitessential Mexican spirit.
 |
| Mercaderas (part) by Josefina |
 |
| one of Josefina's Fridas |
Guillermina began as a child making basins (apaxtels)
and incense burners (braseros) for Dia de los Muertos
altars and candle holders for local churches soon
developing a distinctive taste for sculptural pieces
and exotic creatures like mermaids, depicting Oaxacan
folklore and daily life scenes. She also creates
and incense burners (braseros) for Dia de los Muertos
altars and candle holders for local churches soon
developing a distinctive taste for sculptural pieces
and exotic creatures like mermaids, depicting Oaxacan
folklore and daily life scenes. She also creates
impressive one-meter-high trees of life, bells
with animal heads and stunning water jugs.
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| Irene with one of her mermaids |
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| complex allegorical artwork by Irene |
Josefina's skill was noticed when she was still young;
nowadays she's considered a master whose works
can be seen in several museums and are widely
collected. Her muñecas (human figures) of both
male and female gender, all bearing little pointed
noses as a trademark, consist of a series of tableaux
vivants representing scenes and rituals of everyday's
village life as well as religious rites but she's mostly
known for her women carrying on the head
nowadays she's considered a master whose works
can be seen in several museums and are widely
collected. Her muñecas (human figures) of both
male and female gender, all bearing little pointed
noses as a trademark, consist of a series of tableaux
vivants representing scenes and rituals of everyday's
village life as well as religious rites but she's mostly
known for her women carrying on the head
baskets of fruit, flowers and birds.
 |
| Irene's take on Frida |
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| Virgen de Guadalupe by Concepción |
Irene Aguilar Alcántara is known for her individual
often complex pieces of musicians, demons, monks,
”ladies of the night”, enamorados, catrinas (the famous
grinning skeletal lady) and fruteros (fruit bowls) but she
also creates sculptural artworks like complex market
scenes. However, she's proud of her
often complex pieces of musicians, demons, monks,
”ladies of the night”, enamorados, catrinas (the famous
grinning skeletal lady) and fruteros (fruit bowls) but she
also creates sculptural artworks like complex market
scenes. However, she's proud of her
brightly colored mermaids.
 |
| Two skeleton 'Women of the Nopal Cactus' by Concepción |
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| Concepción's radiant Fridas |
The youngest sister, Concepción, was just nine when
Dona Isaura died without passing on her knowledge
so she learnt by imitating her three sisters. Working
with her husband Jorge Sánchez Ruiz and finding
inspiration in nature, she's known for her graceful,
elegantly detailed figures of virgins, flower women
and animals, Noah's arks or the skeleton women of
the Nopal Cactus series. Concepción, exatcly like
her older sisters, creates meaningful 'Fridas' paying
a deferential homage to the greatest
Dona Isaura died without passing on her knowledge
so she learnt by imitating her three sisters. Working
with her husband Jorge Sánchez Ruiz and finding
inspiration in nature, she's known for her graceful,
elegantly detailed figures of virgins, flower women
and animals, Noah's arks or the skeleton women of
the Nopal Cactus series. Concepción, exatcly like
her older sisters, creates meaningful 'Fridas' paying
a deferential homage to the greatest
Mexican female artist, Frida Kahlo.
 |
| complex artwork by Lorenzo Demetrio García Aguilar |
The Aguilar family time-honored ceramic workshops
in Ocotlán are living archives of the indigenous culture
iconography, including the works of Lorenzo Demetrio
García Aguilar, Josefina's son, who made a name for
himself by pushing the limits of the traditional art creating
in Ocotlán are living archives of the indigenous culture
iconography, including the works of Lorenzo Demetrio
García Aguilar, Josefina's son, who made a name for
himself by pushing the limits of the traditional art creating
detailed allegorical works with a more sculptural character
featuring extremely detailed textures of rocks, waves
and greenery but the unbroken history of the Aguilars
proudly lingers on through the works of José Francisco
García Vásquez, Josefina's grandson, who keeps alive
the family tradition in each of his pieces.
featuring extremely detailed textures of rocks, waves
and greenery but the unbroken history of the Aguilars
proudly lingers on through the works of José Francisco
García Vásquez, Josefina's grandson, who keeps alive
the family tradition in each of his pieces.
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| artwork by José Francisco García Vásquez |
images compiled thanks to sundry websites, namely:
Casita Azul, Cinco Puntos, Fofa, Insider Oaxaca,
Las Manos Magicas, Manos de Mexicanos,
Oaxaca Culture, Michele Peterson
Casita Azul, Cinco Puntos, Fofa, Insider Oaxaca,
Las Manos Magicas, Manos de Mexicanos,
Oaxaca Culture, Michele Peterson