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

My artistic endeavor have led me towards aare within Peruvian, Chinese and Mexican
personal sense of mission, because the visualcultures.In Peru, it is not common for
arts are more than a passive representationPeruvian artist to step out of the European
of the life style and culture of the Incas,style taught to them in college.I choose to
Aztecs, Mayas and Chinese of theemphasize in Incan, Aztecs and Mayan organic
Asian-pacific.Through my work, I seek tocultures of our ancestors. Rather than naming
preserve and stimulate an alternative visionold masters and legends as my inspiration,
to the modern industrialized twenty-firststyle, and subjects I choose to name my
Century. Western culture has moved away frommother as my true inspiration.My mother
the serene life style that my ancestorsCeferina has lived a tranquil life until now.
lived. It is more important to recognize thatI pay direct tribute to women such as my
we indigenous hold on to a distinct culturemother. She gave me tenderness care,
with other values other ways of seeking thededication and guidance to pursue my career.I
world.I am forty-nine years old and was bornpaint Mother Nature as the Creator of All
in the Peruvian altiplano of Puno. TheCultures. His is a tribute to Incan Indian
traditional indigenous highlands of thewomen because they often work harder than
Andean Mountain are portrayed in my art. Mymen. Most of them spend all day working in
parents had been driven there from their homethe fields with three to five children to
near the ancient Andean ruins of the Incas.care for, and often carrying one of them on
This was the result of their familiestheir backs.They are willing to fight for a
disapproved of their relationship. I returnedbetter life. I render an emotional tone of
my home village at the age of seven and sinceevery rhythm of the Andean life through my
then I have committed my art to indigenousvibrant use of color. I also use bright and
roots, my art expresses my indigenous rootsradiantCombinations of reds, turquoises,
and Asian influences.My mother has alwayspurples, and oranges characterize the
said that in our culture, we use choose totextiles and ceramics of the Peruvian Andean
use strong colors to appease the spirits soMountain.I use many colors of the Andean
that they are happy and will not bring aboutMountains. When I asked my mother why the
darkness. It was not expected for the son ofAndean Mountains have such vivid colors, she
an Andean Mountain family to attend in fineonce again replied that it is to appease the
arts school, because it is very expensive.Ispirits so that they will be happy and will
began to paint at the age of seven and atnot bring forth darkness. I employ simple
seventeen studied fine arts in Peru.swirling patterns to transmit a sense of the
Afterwards I went to France, China andpeace and harmony that radiates from the
Mexico. I am presently studying in Salt LakeIncan Indian close interrelation to the land.
City and I am also painting full time.It is this sense of the sacredness in nature
Through my formal training, I have been ablethat comes from deep within my works.
to explore more than one theme. These themes



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