memory sculpture

The majestic aura of these wise giants will transform your environment into a space for peace and reflection. Indian artisan Tulsi Dass works with brass to create a breathtaking sculpture of an elephant, a symbol of memory and prosperity. After finishing the metalwork, the artist enhances his creation with charming beads and resin accents, making it a luxurious home accent.

When the holidays arrive, many think about the presents they want to give or receive. However, Indian artisan Kunal Vats finds the most precious gift in the joyful memories around the Christmas tree. Inspired by those merry scenes, he handcrafts a mango wood tree sculpture painted by hand in a cute green tone. As a final touch, colorful wool yarns dangle gracefully from the top, symbolizing the good wishes of the artist.

In traditional Huichol style, tiny glass beads are individually applied by hand to this small papier mache skull using beeswax. Mexico's Miguel Diaz designs and crafts the sculpture, which features peyote flower motifs, a common element in Huichol design. The Huichol or Wixarika are an indigenous people in central western Mexico.

Formed of three blue peyote buds, a lighted candle is radiant in this exquisite nierika, or votive beadwork painting by Kupihaute. A butterfly alights on either side in his composition, which takes the shape of a flower with five wide petals.

The artisan, who writes fluently in the Huichol, Nahuatl, Spanish and English languages, talks about this work in his own words. "The nierika is a mirror that is offered to the sea together with the first corn that has been harvested, in order to renew the cycle of rains that will give life to the next crop cycle. As in most of the ancient cultures of our planet, the candle represents our trajectory between being born and returning. For this reason, even today, during the celebration of our birthday, it is customary to light and blow out as many candles as solar cycles have elapsed. The butterflies and spirals are indicating that existence is energy in permanent transformation between arising from and returning to earth."

The intricate images are formed with tiny seed beads. Kupihuate patiently places them one at a time with a needle made of abalone shell onto a huanacaxtle wood backing. Beeswax is used instead of glue.

The process is totally spontaneous, with no previous sketch or design. It is guided by the artist's unconscious to tell the stories that remain in our collective ancestral memory. He signs his work with the symbol of a butterfly on the reverse side of the nierika.

All aboard! Noted Guatemalan ceramicist Vitelio Orozco plays on fond memories of traveling around in these clattering buses going to market. He crafts the four-inch vehicle with local clay, hand painted in red and yellow. On the roof, a palm leaf basket carries a variety of pinewood fruits and vegetables.