Carousel, 2018
by Alma Dominga Zeferino Acevedo
Temalacatzingo, Guerrero, Mexico
Tzomplantli wood, lacquer
18” high x 14" diameter
This extraordinary carousel was created in 2018 by master lacquer artist Alma Dominga Zeferino Acevedo for a solo exhibition at Galeria Atotonilco in Atotonilco, Guanajuato, Mexico. Each animal and their riders are meticulously carved and painted in the traditional lacquer technique using stages of chia oil, mineral powders, and burnishing, repeated over and over. The more layers, the greater the translucency, depth of color, and soft jewel-like quality of the pigment. This piece is on a swivel so it can be turned, adding to the playfulness of the sculpture.
Temalacatzingo has been producing lacquer work for thousands of years, long before the Spanish arrived. Though some have speculated that the oriental trade from the Manila Galleons, 1565 to 1815, influenced this lacquer work, created not far from Acapulco where the Manila Galleons arrived from the Philippines laden with Chinese lacquer, in fact, lacquer work as old as 5,000 years has been found in the area. So lacquer techniques are imbedded in the DNA of these indigenous artists. They have highly specialized skills cultivated over many generations.
