Gil won honorable mention in woodcarving FOFA’s 2008 young artists’ competition with his dynamic piece, “The Jaguar.” He did the carving, while his father, Miguel Santiago, did the decorative painting. It is Gil’s wish to make things that are different, this piece being one example. He identifies himself with the jaguar because both of them are carnivorous. Gil learned woodcarving by watching his parents. Different emotions take hold of him when he is carving, ranging from hatred to happiness to feeling great pride in his culture. Gil would like for people who see his piece to appreciate that the jaguar is an animal that lived in Arrazola, and one that should be cared for.
