Cartoner.C3.ADa career Rodolfo Villena Hernández

close of piece in progress

he began artisan career in 1990, after taking classes in cartonería, break year in 1996 when went new york earn money selling chicharrones. since then, has been dedicated cartonería full-time. workshop outside city of puebla on old highway linking city of tlaxcala, old industrial corridor. exterior in non-descript, distinguished name on door. inside, there 2 rooms filled creations in various stages of completion walls covered in various recognitions.

villena hernández makes of traditional cartonería objects such piñatas, lupita dolls, judas figures, has become known monumental works commissioned government , cultural institutions in puebla , mexico city related holy week, christmas, corpus christi , day of dead. of these, altars related day of dead of particular note, skeletal figures adorn them. has created altars in honor of juan de palafox y mendoza (2009) puebla city hall, mexican revolution complejo cultural universitaria of benemérita universidad autónoma de puebla (2010), china poblana various students puebla city hall (2012) , 1 josé guadalupe posada national museum of mexican art in chicago (2013) . artisan represents death happy, fun , irreverent, skeletal figures in movement. works show influence josé guadalupe posada in sense of irony.

his work has been exhibited in various locations in mexico new york, chicago, philadelphia , madrid, included invitation national museum of mexican art month. work can found in public , private collections including of richard harris’ collection of death memorabilia , @ casa de venados in mérida, yucatán. however, says work better appreciated outside of mexico, few in country willing pay creations worth. finds difficult government , non-governmental support exhibit outside country. supplement income sales, gives classes rents pieces showings.

villena hernández’s cartonería work has won awards , recognitions in puebla, other parts of mexico , united states. in 2001, won first place @ premio de arte popular of fonart, 3.4 meter train boarded skeletal figures depicting mexico revolution, took 6 months , 7 kilos of paper make. named 1 of 475 distinguished citizens of state of puebla. in 2013, named “master of popular art” (maestro de arte popular) museo de arte popular in mexico city. has been interviewed radio, television , newspapers work related culture.