The sculptor from Coahuila, Osvaldo Chacón, will take his work to Dubai: a cowboy hat made from recycled aluminum cans, the result of a project promoted by Italian gallery owner Claudio Giuliani. The piece combines creativity, experimental techniques, and the collaboration of local artisans.
Named “Sombrero del ahogado” (The Drowned Man’s Hat), the sculpture came to life thanks to the help of Don Lencho, a brickmaker from Saltillo who created the mold, and Don Vázquez, an aluminum casting specialist, who poured the molten metal over clay and transformed the cans into a work of art. Chacón comments: “It was a completely new process for me; there is no established technique for this, and we had to improvise and test several times until we achieved it.”
The piece reflects the identity of northern Mexico and the Texan culture that Chacón has experienced at the border. “It is not a matter of fashion, but a way to honor the cowboy roots of my people. I am excited to take our history across continents,” the artist states.
Self-taught since 2005, Chacón highlights that working with recycled materials allows him to repurpose what others consider obsolete and maintain a style centered on regional identity. “I am grateful to everyone who has supported me; without their help, it would not have been possible to get this far,” he concludes.
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