Sacred Elements of the Maya World
This work represents the four sacred elements of the Mayan worldview: Water, Earth, Fire, and Wind. The sculpture features a powerful volcano at the moment of eruption. From the dense plume of smoke and explosive force emerges a striking dragon-shaped silhouette, formed by the wind as it moves in a direction considered significant by the ancient Maya. From between its sharp fangs, the dragon releases a sphere of fire that travels toward the vast sea surrounding it, giving rise to a bubble of air. Through this dynamic interaction, the four elements are brought into balance and dialogue.
Artist: RAFAEL ZURDO XAJAP
Rafael Zurdo Xajap was born in the small town of Chuarrancho, in the municipality of Guatemala, Guatemala. From an early age, he developed a deep appreciation for precious stones, inspired by visits to the Motagua River with his father, where he collected stones of different shapes, colors, and sizes. Over the past 46 years, Rafael has devoted himself to creating sculptures and enhancing the value of jade through a wide range of carving and finishing techniques, elevating this precious stone to the prominence it deserves.
