his spectacular Pegasus alebrije by Oaxacan artists Tribus Mixes has an extraordinary sense of movement. The elegant horse seems caught in mid flight, with raised legs, an arched neck and magnificent carved feathers extending from the wings, head and tail. The complexity of those long, slender feather forms makes the carving especially impressive, yet the entire figure remains beautifully balanced.
The hand painted decoration draws on geometric forms associated with Mixtec art, using blues and turquoise to unify the many separate elements of the sculpture. Stepped patterns travel along the body and neck while fine linear details emphasize individual feathers. The result is a highly imaginative Oaxacan wood carving that brings ancient Mexican visual references into a contemporary alebrije.
In Greek mythology, Pegasus is the legendary winged horse, closely associated with the Muses and poetic inspiration. Through centuries of art and literature, Pegasus has also become a symbol of imagination and freedom. Tribus Mixes gives the ancient figure an unmistakably Oaxacan identity, transforming the winged horse through Mexican carving and pattern.
