Venezuelan artisan received the Medal for Artisanal Mastery 2025 in Colombia

Published at: 21/12/2025 08:15 AM

The Venezuelan artisan belonging to the indigenous Wayuu ethnic group in the state of Zulia, Alexander González, received the Medal for Artisanal Mastery Diversity and Inclusion in Colombia, during the 35th edition of the Expocraftsmanship Exhibition, which was held from December 5 to 18 in the city of Bogotá.

The Zuliano won one of the eleven mentions of the important award that recognizes the creators of craftsmanship in the state of New Granada.

“With great pride, with great honor, I receive it for all the Wayuu people. This belongs to all of us, who work handicrafts, who work everything handmade,” said González, who has been knitting with natural fibers for 30 years.

He thanked the Red Art Foundation for the support that the Red Art Foundation has given him over the years in his growth as an artisan. He also expressed his gratitude to the Colombian Government because “here has been the boom so that Wayuu crafts are also known in many countries and throughout Colombia,” he said.

He also explained that, after having learned the trade from his uncle, for decades and together with his relatives he has been knitting the Wayuu hat in a traditional way, which is made with Mawisa straw. In addition, he commented that he has been participating in the Expoartesanias, in Bogotá, and in the Expoartesano, in Medellín, for 15 years.

“This year, after having participated and having shown everything I do together with my family, I have received the highest distinction given in the artisanal sector by the Colombian State,” he said.

He recalled that he has attended different fairs that were held in Venezuelan territory and from there he began to renew the weaving of the hat. “We began to innovate in new products, always maintaining what is the tradition of weaving and maintaining, obviously, the Wayuu designs and the fiber with which it is woven; then, from there, we created the individual baskets, cup holders, napkin rings and other new elements that come from the tradition of weaving the Wayuu hat,” he said.

Meanwhile, he noted that thanks to the invitation of the ProColombia organization, he was able to attend one of the largest and longest fairs in the world this year: Expo Osaka, in Japan.

He added that the Wayuu were an indigenous people invited to the event on the Asian continent. And in that sense, ten members of the ethnic group represented everything that weaving is as part of the craftsmanship of the original community, in addition to its three elements: the chinchorro, the backpack and the hat. “There we went to represent the people, showing, doing professional demonstrations. It was a very nice experience for me and for my people,” he said.

MINCULTURA/Mazo News Team