Carolina Sandoval & Kengi: Mixed-Media Embroidery Armadillo Sculpture Alebrije

Carolina Sandoval & Kengi: Mixed-Media Embroidery Armadillo Sculpture AlebrijeFantastic Oaxacan Armadillo by artists Carlina Sandoval and Kengi Santos. Carolina and Kengi are married, and in their 20s. They create woodcarvings and innovative mixed media pieces, incorporating textiles, metals, and acrylic sculpting. This fabulous Zapotec armadillo is a wonderful mixed media piece incorporating Oaxacan cotton embroidered ribbon from Jalieza, Oaxaca, with their traditional woven dolls that create the ribs of the armadillo. The

Each bead has been meticulously placed by hand

Dressed here in what can only be described as a painted universe

The subject could not be more fitting

and masterfully done

and completely at ease

Zapotec motifs

Antonio paints each one differently: yellow swirls on blue

with those little red diamonds sitting in the pattern like stitched accents

The alebrije is hand-carved from copal wood found in Oaxaca

Artes de México Special Edition

Every curve of the body

confident pose that gives the piece real movement and life