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These
strange-colored monsters or Alebrijes were invented by Pedro Linares, who saw
them in a dream when he was 30, and very sick.
While he lay in bed
unconscious, he dreamed of a strange and different place. A forest appeared
with trees, animals, clouds, blue sky, rocks and other things, and where all
the animals had turned into strange, unknown creatures.
He saw a donkey with
butterfly’s wings, a rooster with an eagle’s head and others that all shouted
the word, Alebrijes. The animals began to shout louder and louder, Alebrijes,
Alebrijes, Alebrijes!
The sound was
terrible and he wanted to get away. A man told him that it still wasn’t time
for him to be there and that he would have to start walking in order to find
the exit. Later, he came across a narrow window, climbed through, and suddenly
awoke.
When Pedro was able
to get out of bed, he began to remember his dream and wanted his family and other people to
see these animals. So, he took some paper and began to mold the figures he had
seen; he then painted them like those he saw in his dream.
Now, Miguel Linares
(his son), Paula Garcia (daughter in law), Ricardo Linares and Miguel Linares
(grandson) have continued the tradition of making Alebrijes.
There are thousands
of Alebrijes that have been molded from papier mache, painted with bright
colors and covered with mysterious drawings.
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