The transit of a space can define the ways of inhabiting it. As we move through the squares and avenues of a city, it is the monuments, effigies, and sculptures that engage us with the public space. Their presences are part of the construction of memory, as they generate situations of social interaction and constitute the identity of a place by making it familiar.

This interpretation serves as the guideline for the Jacobo and María Ángeles Workshop to promote the production of their monumental pieces, which aim to create walkable spaces where the viewer becomes a user and participant in the narrative that the fantastic figures of the workshop evoke with their splendid postures, gestures, colors, and stories.

Monumental pieces for Denver Botanic Gardens by Jacobo and María Ángeles

The monumental pieces created especially for the Denver Botanic Gardens represent excellence in the artisanal, artistic, and installation work that characterizes the workshop, being a complete composition of fusions of various animals, which make up our worldview and imagination, forming part of the Zapotec calendar. We feel fully honored to present these pieces, which demonstrate a procedural, conceptual, and technical advancement that motivates us to keep moving forward.

Under the leadership of masters Jacobo Ángeles and María Mendoza, and their son Ricardo Ángeles, the possibilities in each of their creations have expanded, telling stories in different worlds that allow them to continue sharing their identity, culture, and tradition.

These monumental pieces are distinguished by a meticulous carving process and a pictorial technique that highlights a vibrant color palette. This technique not only stands out for its visual beauty but is also linked to the research and preservation of Zapotec symbolism, thus giving a profound meaning to this artistic and artisanal production.