Peruvian Artist Shares Why Preservation of Culture and Rituals Sacred To His Art

My artistic endeavor have led me towards a personalwithin Peruvian, Chinese and Mexican cultures.In Peru,
sense of mission, because the visual arts are moreit is not common for Peruvian artist to step out of
than a passive representation of the life style andthe European style taught to them in college.I choose
culture of the Incas, Aztecs, Mayas and Chinese ofto emphasize in Incan, Aztecs and Mayan organic
the Asian-pacific.Through my work, I seek tocultures of our ancestors. Rather than naming old
preserve and stimulate an alternative vision to themasters and legends as my inspiration, style, and
modern industrialized twenty-first Century. Westernsubjects I choose to name my mother as my true
culture has moved away from the serene life styleinspiration.My mother Ceferina has lived a tranquil life
that my ancestors lived. It is more important tountil now. I pay direct tribute to women such as my
recognize that we indigenous hold on to a distinctmother. She gave me tenderness care, dedication
culture with other values other ways of seeking theand guidance to pursue my career.I paint Mother
world.I am forty-nine years old and was born in theNature as the Creator of All Cultures. His is a tribute
Peruvian altiplano of Puno. The traditional indigenousto Incan Indian women because they often work
highlands of the Andean Mountain are portrayed inharder than men. Most of them spend all day working
my art. My parents had been driven there from theirin the fields with three to five children to care for,
home near the ancient Andean ruins of the Incas.and often carrying one of them on their backs.They
This was the result of their families disapproved ofare willing to fight for a better life. I render an
their relationship. I returned my home village at theemotional tone of every rhythm of the Andean life
age of seven and since then I have committed mythrough my vibrant use of color. I also use bright and
art to indigenous roots, my art expresses myradiantCombinations of reds, turquoises, purples, and
indigenous roots and Asian influences.My mother hasoranges characterize the textiles and ceramics of the
always said that in our culture, we use choose to usePeruvian Andean Mountain.I use many colors of the
strong colors to appease the spirits so that they areAndean Mountains. When I asked my mother why
happy and will not bring about darkness. It was notthe Andean Mountains have such vivid colors, she
expected for the son of an Andean Mountain familyonce again replied that it is to appease the spirits so
to attend in fine arts school, because it is verythat they will be happy and will not bring forth
expensive.I began to paint at the age of seven anddarkness. I employ simple swirling patterns to
at seventeen studied fine arts in Peru. Afterwards Itransmit a sense of the peace and harmony that
went to France, China and Mexico. I am presentlyradiates from the Incan Indian close interrelation to
studying in Salt Lake City and I am also painting fullthe land. It is this sense of the sacredness in nature
time. Through my formal training, I have been able tothat comes from deep within my works.
explore more than one theme. These themes are