Preserving the Innocence of Childhood: the Lelé Doll

Starting this Saturday, in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month, Mexican artist Gaby Cazares will exhibit her new collection at the Mansión Bravos Gallery in Saltillo (Coahuila, Mexico). The Lelé doll will be on display with the aim of reminding us of the importance of protecting the innocence of children.

As an art teacher for more than twenty years and now a grandmother, Cazares has seen firsthand how important it is for children to be able to enjoy their innocence, ingenuity and imagination in a healthy and natural way. She was inspired by the Lelé doll for her new line of drawings.

The handmade folkloric and handcrafted doll was created by an indigenous Otomí grandmother so that her granddaughter could have something to play with. The first one was made out of rags and costal fabric, crafted with dedication, creativity and time, exactly what children need. Each Lelé has a special, unique and original design.

Gabriela Cazares has designed murals, caricatures and faces, but now she turns to the figurative surrealist style because it gives her creativity a sense of freedom.

Although the doll is of Otomí origin, there are several places in Mexico, such as Querétaro and Puebla, that are fighting for pioneer status in the distribution of Lelé, similar to how good and evil fight for the minds, hearts and souls of our children.

The Mexican artist wants to transmit originality in her creations for this donqú, "doll" in Otomí, to show parents the urgent need to protect their children's identity with due discernment.

"This work advocates that there should not be a generation gap," Cazares tells us. Many times, through technology, divisive ideologies that fight against normalcy in children can slowly steal authority and responsibility from parents.

With her inspiring works, Gaby Cazares raises awareness among parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and educators, encouraging them to protect children's childhoods by preserving what is most precious, those crucial years of life in which they should be free from indoctrination, manipulation and perversity.