Francisco Morales: Guardian of the Night Bat Woodcarving
Francisco Morales: Guardian of the Night Bat Woodcarving
This delicate bat by Francisco Morales of Arrazola, Oaxaca, captures both the mystery and beauty of the night. This one-piece copal woodcarving, with its elegant wings spread wide, reveals fascinating geometric patterns in shades of yellow gold, green, and warm ochre.
Francisco Morales is a first-generation Oaxacan woodcarving artist and the father of renowned carvers Nicolas and Max Morales. A pioneer in his family’s artistic legacy, Francisco helped shape the Morales workshop’s distinctive style, marked by vibrant color palettes, detailed geometric patterns, and the signature pointillism painting technique.
Francisco’s signature precision and superb craftsmanship are evident in the flawless symmetry of each line, a hallmark of his family’s workshop, one of Arrazola’s most respected. The fine cross-hatching, inspired by pre-Hispanic fretwork, creates a woven texture, while the color gradient on the back suggests the glow of dawn or moonlight.
Among the Southwestern Pueblo peoples, the bat represents communication with the unseen and the power to navigate in darkness, both literal and spiritual.
