Arte Plumario Kozamalotl - Ruben Flores

Bio: Rubén Flores Apaez was born in the state of Guerrero in a community called Cuahuilotla. When he was 5 years old his family emigrated to the state of Morelos and since he was a child he always appreciated and admired birds, the memory of the first ones are in the corral and some wild ones singing with their color and brightness in their feathers.

At the age of 22 he joined a traditional dance group in Cuernavaca, Morelos and that opened the door for him to what “feather art” is. The ways to use feathers include ceremonial, ritual and traditional. For more than 18 years he has been working together with Gastón Aguilar, together they learned to dedicate themselves to feather work and about the knowledge that it comes with. Ruben says this work is often self-taught and that through observation and research one can learn the ancient techniques of gluing the pen. Over time Ruben says he has also developed further techniques which he expresses in the pieces he makes today.

During the first years of dedication to this craft, he participated in competitions where he obtained prizes and recognitions, and has also participated in several craft exhibitions in Mexico. It gives him great pride to be able to show his feather artwork and participate in this ancient art, and he believes there are more and more people who recognize it and through the art learn about the change of plumage of all birds. He says that though bird feathers may be something that many other people discard or ignore, for him they are art and it is something that he can give life to through his creations.