NOVICA Artisan Jose and Andres
Jose and Andres
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We greatly respect Mexico's traditions for the Day of the Dead. Its origins date from pre-Hispanic times. There are records of celebrations among many ancient peoples here — the Maya, Purepecha, Totonacs, and Mexica, or Aztecs. It was common to preserve skulls as trophies, and exhibit them during rituals that symbolized death and rebirth.
After the conquest, the fusion of indigenous beliefs with Spanish Catholicism brought a unique and colorful religious character to the celebrations. Yet, in a certain way, it preserved the ancestral memories of the old pre-Hispanic traditions. A fundamental part of the Day of the Dead are the ofrendas, or offerings, and their elements are filled with symbolism.
"This is one of the main reasons we decided to capture these wonderful traditions in each of our designs.
"We are guided by our perceptions, as we have no professional instruction in this craft. We've always worked according to our intuition and perception.
"When we first began this project, we focused on research. This has been the basis of each of our designs and is an important source of inspiration. The cultures of our ancestors are marvelous!
"Our greatest challenge has been to accept our errors. We're conscious that this is a constant process of learning and everything depends on it.
"We both love our work, especially the attention to detail, the way each process is done. The magic of imagination leads the way to a tangible reality.
"We are very orderly and disciplined in our work. The most important part of what we do is sharing a love for Mexican traditions and folklore with everyone who collaborates with us. We want to inspire enthusiasm and love for our Mexico."