See the Fantastic Vochol, a Huichol-Beaded Volkswagen

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The old Volkswagen Beetle is iconic in Mexico, its little dome ubiquitous in thousands of vehicles zipping around major cities and chugging along country roads.

The Huichol Indians of Nayarit and Jalisco states are known for their intricate beadwork.

What better way to juxtapose ancient and modern than with … a beaded beetle? It is named the Vochol, a combination of the Beetle’s nickname, vocho, and the tribal name Huichol. Artists Francisco Bautista Carrillo and his daughter Kena Bautista did the deed, even signing the work in beads.

Sadly, although nearly all Mexico City’s cabs were once Beetles, they are being taken off the road at the end of this year when their licenses expire, the Associated Press reports, endangered like so many other things on this planet.

In the first video below, find out how many beads it took. Check out the bottom video for a longer look and deeper explanation of the symbolism and the stories behind it, in Spanish with English subtitles.

By ICTMN Staff March 25, 2012