thought sculpture

With its distinctive dark green head, this duck is named for its large and distinctive bill. The northern shoveler feeds while swimming, filtering the water through its bill as though it were a seine net. Mauricio Morales depicts the aquatic bird in a ceramic sculpture and carefully paints it by hand before protecting the colors with a coat of wax. The realistic figurine is signed and identified by the artist.

Kneeling elephants lift feet and trunks as though in prayer. Portly and powerful, elephants are an important part of Thai culture. They have been a symbol of both power and peace. From Kanda, each figurine is crafted by hand in the tradition of celadon ceramic arts, renowned for its subtly crackled glazed finish.

A unique fusion of Maya and Toltec styles, the chac mool depicts a reclining person holding a bowl. The first such figures were discovered in the late 1800s in a number of sites in Yucatán. Thought to depict sacrificial victims, the bowls received offerings to the gods – perhaps even human hearts. Angel Cerón recreates the enigmatic image in an exquisite ceramic sculpture.

In 1901, a cat sculpture was discovered in the mansion of the Marquee of Apartado, just to the west of the principal temple of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital. Artisans from the Angel Cerón Artisan Association replicate the océlotl (ocelot or "little tiger"), associated with warriors. The original is thought to have received the hearts of sacrificial victims whose blood was necessary to feed the hungry sun.

Angel Cerón finds inspiration in the art and beliefs of the Olmeca people to replicate the sculpture of a jaguar holding a man standing on his head. "The original sculpture is from the middle pre-classic period of 1200-400 B.C. and was found in San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán, Veracruz," explains the master ceramist. "The ancient Olmeca believed they were descendants of the union between a jaguar and a woman. The actual myth seems to have been lost in time, though many of their celebrations and artistry make reference to the jaguar, especially portraying people with feline facial characteristics including fangs. There used to be a considerable jaguar population in the same region where the Olmeca culture developed, so they regarded the feline as having some connection with their origin. They also believed it to represent both the world of th living, and the underworld," continues Cerón, who crafts the sculpture with yellow clay from the state of Oaxaca creating low and high relief accents and gives it an antiqued finish.

The market bus pulls to a clattering halt. All aboard to Chichicastenango! Remembering traveling though the countryside on these colourful buses, Vitelio Orozco crafts a miniature 3.5-inch model. On the roof, a palm leaf basket carries a variety of pinewood fruits and vegetables.

All aboard to Panajachel! Crisscrossing the Guatemalan countryside, a market bus pauses to take on passengers. Remembering traveling though the countryside on these colourful buses, Vitelio Orozco crafts a miniature 3.5-inch model in green. On the roof, a palm leaf basket carries a variety of pinewood fruits and vegetables.

Angel Cerón reveals the presence of Chalchiuhtlicue as he works with clay extracted from the state of Oaxaca. Officially authorized to replicate pre-Hispanic museum pieces, Cerón crafts a detailed statuette of this feminine deity, the female companion of Tlaloc, Aztec god of rain. The original is dated between 1325 and 1521 A.D. Chalchiuhtlicue is the goddess of lakes, rivers, fountains, seas and oceans, and thus the protector of sailors and is also known as "She with the Jade Skirt" symbolizing pure and crystalline running water. "Chalchiuhtlicue is usually depicted holding a staff representing lightning, and a bag of copal, where clouds are formed. She is revered as the female principle of life and patron of midwives and newborns," explains Cerón who though he has officially retired, he continues to pursue his life-long passion for pre-Hispanic art.