Traditional Toys: Ancient Processes
A glimpse into the manufacturing processes behind Mexican children's most loved toys
Finishing of the toy, from the Toy Island series. (2019-05-13) by Fernando Oscar Martín Ministry of Culture of the Government of Mexico
Unlimited ingenuity
Behind each of these toys lies the ingenuity of thousands of artisans who charmingly show us how imagination, ingenuity, humor and creativity know no bounds.
Carmen Jiménez in diamantina from the series “making process and artisan workshops”. (2019-03-23) by Yesrael González Barrera Ministry of Culture of the Government of Mexico
Colors and flavors
Beyond showing the ingenuity, humor and colorfulness of popular Mexican toys, they reveal the techniques and ancestral knowledge of native peoples.
A family trade by Emiliano Salvador Navarro Cabrera Ministry of Culture of the Government of Mexico
A family affair
Parents pass on the craft to their children as a game; they, in turn, learned how to use colors, handle raw materials, improve dexterity and the ability to make different objects from their ancestors.
Learning through play
This all forms part of the collective memory of many generations: children play, sing and imitate the behavior of adults, all while learning values and customs.
The violin lathe, from the Toy Island series (2019-05-13) by Fernando Oscar Martín Ministry of Culture of the Government of Mexico
Dream workshops
There are several workshops where toys are made using countless different materials: plant fibers, sheet metal, wood, cardboard, cloth, clay, glass and anything else the artisan's imagination and creativity desires.
5 Craftsman's Gift (2019-05-04) by Glenda Denisse Medina Gómez Ministry of Culture of the Government of Mexico
From materials to magic
They shape, mold and transform the raw materials into balls, spinning tops, yo-yos, dolls, little animals, soccer balls, magic boxes, acrobats, storage boxes, kitchen utensils, bows and arrows, rifles and countless other objects for playing and having fun.
Painting the end-of-the-day pieces of the Toys series (2019-05-13) by Fernando Oscar Martín Ministry of Culture of the Government of Mexico
Guardians of tradition
Towns such as San Antonio de la Isla and San Lucas Tepemajalco fill up with color and festivities, and many others are dedicated especially to toy making, where creators' magical hands preserve the heritage and tradition of this ancient art.
The bases by Emiliano Salvador Navarro Cabrera Ministry of Culture of the Government of Mexico
The toy cycle
Where they once played, where they learned the trade and, now, where they proudly replicate the cycle. Fun, fantasy and colorfulness are born right there.
The photographs in this exposition form part of the X National Photography Competition, "Spinning tops, dolls and kites. Traditional Mexican games and toys,"
held in 2018 by the General Directorate of Popular, Indigenous and Urban Cultures.
This story was made possible thanks to support and collaboration from the General Directorate of Popular, Indigenous and Urban Cultures.
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