Description
Artist/Maker: Menchaca Studio (since 2010)
Object/Materials and Techniques: Fiberglass Sculpture decorated with Fine Crystals Beads
Date: Created in 2019
Dimensions: H. 25 cm. x W. 23 cm. x L. 49 cm. / Weight 3 Kg.
Art style: Sculpture / Huichol Art / Mexican Art / Modern Folk Art
Elaboration time: 3 months
Current Location: Artist’s collection in Mexico City
Curator’s note: ‘Follow the Whale Shark and immerse yourself into the transcendent Huichol world of Menchaca Studio.’
Praised for the opulent blend of the ancient Mexican spirit with the contemporary vision, Menchaca Studio consciously chooses to put in the spotlight the Whale Shark, the largest known extant fish species and the largest non-cetacean animal in the whole wide world.
Each Huichol sculpture featuring this docile creature is unique, as correspondingly each real whale shark has a unique pattern of stripes and spots.
Mexico is one of two places among coastal countries where the highest numbers of whale sharks are to be seen, with Oceana -the largest international advocacy organization focused solely on ocean conservation- fighting to protect them.
Often called the ‘gentle giants’, these gigantic yet harmless ocean habitats, epitomize authority and superiority, holding powerful symbolic meaning across many tribes and cultures. Whale sharks are primarily considered as symbol of perception, self-defence and knowledge. Their remarkable size, along with their friendly behaviour towards humans, all contribute to their potent symbolism in bringing positiveness to life, and emotional support, making the man expand to his full potential.
Respectively, thoughtfully designed, the small, yet impressive Whale Shark figure by Menchaca Studio carries such a compensating sense of sacred character and stamina. It punctuates the artful spirit of Mexican people occupying a space between worlds, between the living and the spiritual, revealing itself in strides while synchronously stressing the importance on the urgency of the conservation of world’s marine life.
In the same way to the entirety of Menchaca Studio’s total output, so too the fiberglass Whake Shark statuette is conceived and handcrafted in collaboration with a special selected group of artisans, members of the pre-conquest community of native Huichol Indians of Mexico’s remote Sierra Madre Occidental region whose culture has survived through thousands of years.
Capitalizing on the traditional technique of Huichol Art that draws upon both, the carefully bead by bead embedding by hand, and the powerful motifs of imagery, the authentic Huichol Whale Shark statuette poignantly and beautifully exemplifies traditional beadwork. It combines fine crystals with intricate pattern details to form an attractive mosaic that interweaves with the ancient symbology of Huichol art and its shamanistic traditions.
Thus, as a genuine artwork of the Mexican millenary Huichol tribe, Whale Shark emerges from within, achieving a strong bond between the reality and the divine. By means of a process in which it communicates with the ‘spiritual world’ of Huicholes, it powerfully incorporates their immortal culture, belief and profound knowledge with regards to nature, history, religion and cosmology.
Despite its small size, the Whale Shark figurine, so dominant in shape and deceptively astounding in form, looks like a marvel to behold in the marine world. The elegant outlines of the corpus highlight its graceful silhouette, give the impression of potential movement while reflecting the emotional and intellectual traits in its action.
Distinctive with a modernist take, Whale Shark by Menchaca Studio effortlessly succeeds, on one hand, in contracting timeless cultural traditions and, on the other, in revealing a whole new remarkable world of modern folk classiness.
Ancient art practices & modern aesthetics ➞ all in one-of-a-kind unparalleled piece of art.
Discover on the |’n Art| gallery online platform the Art and Culture of Mexico through the handmade authentic works of Mechaca Studio, broadly acknowledged for their strong impact to the viewer, as masterfully delivered by Huichol people.
Place now into your space a statement Whale Shark sculpture from Menchaca Studio collection to remind you of your authority and strength against any difficulty or harmfulness.
Important Notation:
- Most of these Indian Art Pieces are exclusive and one-of-a-kind, made once in a lifetime, so if you desire to acquire any of the ones displayed do not hesitate to do it!
- Each piece of Menchaca Studio on the |’n Art| gallery online platform is totally unique, and the item you choose may differ slightly from the item pictured.
- With strong commitment, since its inception, towards encouraging and promoting Social Contribution & Cultural Elevation Initiatives, around the globe, it is with deep respect and honour that |’n Art| collaborates with such groups of artists, as the renowned Menchaca Studio, that significantly contributes to cultural heritage preservation.
In this case, |’n Art| aims to provide a constant source of income to artisans in order to promote economic development in different Mexican regions and encourage the survival of this ancient sacred culture.
Making a purchase on the |’n Art| gallery online platform, you are directly supporting a community, a group or a family of Mexican artisans that struggle to maintain alive the millenary Mexican heritage.
- Custom orders may be placed.
- All Menchaca Studio creations are delivered with a certificate of authenticity.
➞ We kindly invite you to become an integral part of this special art display and interaction that unfolds a whole new field for art collecting and gift giving.
