The Oaxaca Diaries 2021: San Martín Tilcajete
Two years later we return to visit the family of the master craftsman Margarito again.
Mototaxi - Oaxaca, 2021
After getting off the bus we had to take a motorcycle taxi, as is the custom in rural Oaxaca. The girl who guides it does it with skill and very quickly takes us to our destination.
Leonel - Oaxaca, 2021
Our friend and son of the master Margarito Leonel welcomes us and shows us the latest works, precious pieces of carved wood that are enriched with magical colors.
The alebrije is a totemic animal, a typical figure of Mexican folklore, which embodies a spirit-guide, a kind of guardian angel or benevolent demon who assists the life of a person, bearing his destiny inscribed. The alebrijes gave birth to a flourishing art that also depicts them in the forms of fantastic animals. San Martín Tilcajete is the craddle of this kind of craftsmanship and its municipality is best known for the production of these wood carvings.
In 2019 we met us for the first time, during my day of the dead photography expedition and a friendship is born. We kept us in contact and finally this year we achieved to meet us again.
Mask
Cow Skull painted
Some pieces
Dog
Personally I prefer the colors of this laboratory over others, which have excessively bright colors. What the master Margarito proposes is a well-defined and recognizable style.
Margarito
Margarito’s dad
Mezcal
The mezcal flows. As we speak we can see the meeting between similar spirits. I buy a bottle of the type you see in the photo. It is a refined mezcal elaborated by experienced craftsmen mezcaleros in Santa Catarina Minas, a municipality in the state of Oaxaca in south-western Mexico, part of the Ocotlan district.
Family
Little girl
Little girl 2
The most loyal followers already know the story of this little girl. For all the others, I refer you to the photos in the agency's archive:
Little girl 3
She recognized me and accepted to be photographed again.
I invite you to follow Maestro Margarito through his instagram:
San Martin Tilcajete will be the center of the Carnival in 2022 and I am proposing a special workshop. The spots available are limited to 6 participants. Check out on the shop:
