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Exhibit: July 14 - 25, 2008
The UNSRC/ Peruvian Cultural Club
The Permanent Mission of Perú to the United Nations
And DEFA
Are pleased to present:
Myths and Legends of PERÚ
Curated by: Dora Espinoza
United Nations Secretariat Building
The South Lobby
46th Street, & First Ave
Visitors entrance
New York, NY 10017
Reception: Monday, July 14, 2008 • 6:00 to
9:00 P.M.
RSVP: 646-329-6364
The Myths
and Legends of Perú is an art exhibit featuring the works of 9
contemporary artists whose works are influenced by the mythology and
legends of the three regions of Perú: the Coast, the Andes and the
Amazon. Eight of the artists are Peruvian -- Pablo Amaringo,
Consuelo Amat y Leon, Lucy Angulo, Eduardo Cochachin, Zenaida
Cajahuaringa, Betty Seminario, Pablo Seminario, Mario Villalva --
David Hewson is a U.S. citizen who currently lives in Perú.
A very
important part of Perú ’s cultural patrimony is the magical
religious world of our ancestors. It is a world that is filled with
extraordinary creatures which still live on in many of the myths and
legends that endure to this day.
Some of the earliest versions of these myths and legends were
compiled by Pedro Cieza de León (1520
-
1554), who was a Spanish
Conquistador and chronicler of the
Inca history. He wrote one of the finest descriptions on the Inca
world in his book El Señorío de los Incas, which was the second part
of a bigger text: the Crónica del Perú. Another important writer
and historian was El Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, (1539-1616),
who descended from the Inca nobility, and published
in Spain Los
Comentarios Reales de los Incas.
More contemporary versions of Pre Columbian mythology were
compiled by novelist and ethnologist José María Arguedas, and by the
historians Raúl Porras Barrenechea and Maria Rostworowski, among
others.
Ms. Lucy
Angulo one of the artists from the COAST will
give a presentation on the Myths and Legends of Perú, at the same
time she is exhibiting her paintings on the Legend of Pachacamac;
the creation of the first settlement in the ancient Perú.
Consuelo
Amat y Leon, presents The Legend of Amaru, depicts the Goddess of
Fertility as a serpent with wings, that brings rain and fertilizes
the earth.
Eduardo
Cochachin is presenting The Myth of Naylamp, the story of the origin
of Lambayeque one of the most important cultues of the pre-Hispanic
times. This legend was compiled by Miguel Cabello de Balboa in 1586.
Zenaida
Cajahuaringa, presents the Myth of Huarochiri, a legend of the
creation of the Huarochirí man, and his relation to the universe.
It was compiled by the priest Francisco de Ávila, and translated
into Spanish by José Maria Argedas in 1966.
An
additional artist from the Coast Mr. Pablo Seminario, presents a
collection of mythological creatures in ceramic, influenced by the
Pre-Colombian cultures, Mochica Vicus and Chancay.
Among the
artists representing the ANDES is Mario Villalva, whose work El
Human Tac Tac, reveals a fundamental construct of many early
cosmologies, the division between the spiritual world (the head) and
the material world (the body). The sounds that it emits- Tac Tac -
evokes apprehension and fear.
Also from
the Andes Betty Seminario, presents the myth Virgen de La Candelaria,
a conflict on religious and pagan beliefs. This myth is about
people who work in the mines, worshiping the devil who they believe
will help them find precious minerals. Later, they repent and go to
the Virgin for forgiveness.
Among the
artists representing the AMAZON is Pablo Amaringo. He presents a
series of paintings portraying shamanistic culture and the use of
ancient hallucinogenic plants. Some of the jungle myths are strongly
influenced by psychedelic experiences.
The
jungle also plays an important role in the works of David Hewson.
The mythological creatures in his paintings such as the Yacu Mama
and the Soga del Alma are believed to roam the vast lands of the
Amazon. His figurative artwork, which is presented on wood panels,
is enhanced by the traditional technique of water gilding using 24K
gold.
Each of
the artists in this exhibition offers a personal interpretation of a
myth or legend, enhancing the rich mythology and culture of Perú.
Myths and Legends of Perú was made possible thanks to the support
and collaboration of:
The
General Consulate of Perú in New York, Fanny Bonilla, Jack Bregman,
Thom Donovan, Mica D'Orleans, Jill Earick, the Espinoza Family,
Regis Fernandez, Glenn Fouch, Gladys Garcia, the Hewson Family,
Leslie Horvitz, Paula Mayers, Hugo Pereira, Zoila Poire, Ana Maria
Quispe, Hector Rossy, Enrique Soria, bellidoins.com,
ceramicaseminario.com, thebaezagroup.com, publimaxprinting.com,
tribes.org and Miguelinas Restaurant.
If you
would like to find out more information about the artists please
contact Dora Espinoza at 917-703-1507 or via email at
doraespinozart@aol.com |
