Recently, Mexican artist Pedro Linares López protested U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies by painting large, zoomorphic figures referred to as ‘Alebrijes’. These colorful creatures typically appear in popular culture and art, usually used to convey a sense of joy or laughter. Linares chose to depict Trump with an Alebrije that is twisted into a grim visage as if he is aggressing on the world around him.
Although the protest may seem trivial, it is an important reminder that artists worldwide are voices against injustice and cruelty. Let’s hope their protests continue to resonate and that their messages help bring about change!
Mexican Artist Pedro Linares López Protests Trump’s Policies
On January 25th, Mexican artist Pedro Linares López released a video protesting the new U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies on immigration and the proposed wall he plans to build along the Mexico-U.S. border.
In the video, Linares López urges his fellow Mexicans to unite against Trump’s xenophobic rhetoric and stand up for their rights. He also condemns Trump’s plan to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, calling it “abominable” and “inhumane.”
Linares López is known for his sensitive and thought-provoking works of art that probe the human condition through memory, history, and representation. His activism around social issues is no surprise; as a self-taught artist, he has always been passionate about creating art that can impact society.
Alebrijes: Origins and Meaning
Alebrijes are a Mexican folk graphic art form predominantly created during the 1950s and 1960s. It is depicted as frogs, toads, lizards and other amphibians that often feature satirical or ironic messages about Mexican society and politics.
Pedro Linares López is one of Mexico’s most respected alebrijeros. He began creating his iconic alebrijes in the early 1950s when political satirization was still uncommon in Mexican art. Linares’ alebrijes reflect his concerns about Mexico’s uncertain future under the rule of dictatorial president General Miguel Alemán Valdés and the growing power of business interests within the government.
Linares has continued to create alebrijes throughout his long artistic career. His latest work examines the impact of climate change on rural communities across Mexico.
Characteristics of an Alebrije
The Mexican artist Pedro Linares López is known for his brightly painted and surrealistic alebrijes, which are sometimes compared to Velázquez. Alebrijes are creatures with human body parts, wings and horns that often appear in depictions of rural life or folklore.
Linares’ alebrije sculptures explore the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature. Some of his earlier pieces depicted anthropomorphic animals, such as a jaguar or an eagle, but his more recent work focuses on the natural world. In one installation commissioned by the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Morelia, Linares created a series of tables made from tree limbs that hang down like columns. The branches curve and intertwine to form a shadowy interior space reminiscent of forest floors inhabited by strange and mysterious beings.
Linares has also used alebrijes to critique Mexico’s political landscape. In 2014 he created an alebrije in support of then-president Enrique Peña Nieto’s campaign for re-election. The sculpture showed a crowd of people waving flags and cheering around a figure representing Nieto, while inside the animal’s head, there was a scrolling message reading “I am Peña Nieto.”
Linares has indicated that he plans to continue making alebrijes despite President Trump’s pessimistic view of Mexico and its people. “I hope Trump doesn’t ruin this calm we
Influence of Alebrijes on Mexican Culture
Alebrijes are Mexican folk music heavily influence by Spanish and American culture. Pedro Linares López is a Mexican artist who specifically focuses on the alebrije style of music. Linares uses his artwork and music to protest against President Trump’s controversial policies.
Linares was born in 1975 in Chihuahua, Mexico. He started playing the guitar at age 12 and soon began singing folk songs influenced by traditional Alebrijes from his home state. In 2003, he moved to San Francisco to study art and develop his musical talent. His work primarily focuses on the alebrije style, which combines aspects of Mexican folk songs with classical European instruments like the violin and cello.
Linares has perform throughout North America and Europe, including performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where he was nominate for an Echoing Green Award in 2014. He has also released three albums of original alebrije music: “Por Una Tierra sin sol” (For a Land Without Sun), “Viaje al Centro de la Luna” (A Journey to the Center of the Moon) and “Tierra y Esperanza” (Land and Hope). His tunes focus on political themes like resistance against violence, racism and inequality, and environmental awareness.
Linares’s activism began before President Trump took office when he released an
Conclusion
The Mexican artist Pedro Linares López has often used his art to communicate political protest. In a recent exhibition, López displayed installation artwork featuring images of children separated from their parents at the U.S./Mexico border as part of President Donald Trump’s “zero-tolerance” immigration policy. The show was open for only three days before the authorities shut it down due to threats against López and the gallery itself. Although much progress has made since Trump took office in 2017 by addressing the needs of undocumented immigrants, many fear that his policies will result in even more child separations and forcible deportations.
