Luis Pablo shapes and paints each of his Oaxacan alebrijes by hand, infusing the face with vibrant personality.
The eyes, encircled by glowing rings of yellow and red, radiate a wide, watchful gaze. The mouth parts in a gentle, astonished look, as though the capybara has just become aware of the dragonfly's arrival. The head tilts upward, chin raised and ear drawn back, quietly telling a story through subtle gestures rather than dramatic carving.
The dragonfly emerges as its own fragile creation, wings so slender that sunlight could almost slip right through them, poised delicately on a single, precise touch that demands unwavering skill. The body is adorned with fine stippling, each mark laid down in careful, rhythmic strokes—a level of detail that can only come from an artist who both carves and paints with the same devoted hands.
In Maya tradition, the dragonfly carries its own symbolism, tied to Ix Chel, goddess of creativity, a fitting pairing for a piece built around this kind of patient detail work. This is authentic Oaxacan wood carving, shaped from a single piece of copal wood and finished entirely by hand. Look for Pablo's signature hand-painted candle on the base, his mark on every piece.
