parrot figurines

Mexico City saw the beginning of a stunning art style in 1930. After a feverish dream full of extraordinary creatures, Pedro Linares started to create colourful sculptures called alebrijes. Since that day, many have continued Pedro's legacy, making superb works such as this steel wall art design by Alejandro de Esesarte.

"I was drawing an alebrije-like figure, when a little girl came to see what I was doing and joyfully shouted, 'alegrijes!' She misspelled 'alebrijes,' and we all laughed," he recalls.

"Later in the day, it hit me — the little girl didn't make a mistake. Because by changing a single letter, she gave me the new name for my line of alebrijes. They will be called alegrijes.

"Alegre' means means 'joy.' Alegrijes — the ones who bring joy." Using a colourful palette, the artisan crafts a mystic beast, featuring a feathered parrot head, human-like limbs and a fish body.