This papier-mâché opossum tamale seller by Antonio Alonso of Oaxaca is full of the humor and observation that make Mexican folk art so engaging. Dressed in a bright red shirt and blue pants, the opossum rides behind a yellow street cart, long tail curling behind him as he leans toward his pots of tamales.
The cart is wonderfully detailed. One pot holds tamales wrapped in banana leaves, while the other is filled with tamales wrapped in corn husks, representing two different traditions found in Mexico. Beside them is a large container of atole, the warm corn-based drink so closely associated with tamales. The lids lift to reveal the food inside, turning the sculpture into a miniature portrait of a familiar Mexican street scene.
The choice of an opossum, or tlacuache, makes the piece especially appealing. The tlacuache is a familiar animal in Mexico and also appears in ancient Mesoamerican stories, where it is often portrayed as clever and resourceful. Here, Antonio Alonso gives it a very contemporary occupation, transforming the neighborhood tamale vendor into an endearing animal character.
Made in papier-mâché and carefully painted by hand, the sculpture combines everyday Mexican food culture with imagination and wit. From the tiny wheels and metal-gray cooking pots to the neatly modeled tamales inside, Alonso turns a simple street-food cart into a lively piece of Oaxacan folk art.
Origin: Oaxaca
Dimensions: 5''Tall 5.5''Long 3''Wide
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