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Arts and Crafts In Peru

Arts and Crafts In Peru

Thanks to its vast tradition and culture, one of Peru’s best-kept secrets is its arts and crafts. Since Pre inca and inca times, from clay to alpaca wool, passing through literature and dances, Peru boasts of being one of the most creative and traditional countries in terms of art. 

According to some estimates, more than 150,000  people work in Peru's artisan workshops,  creating a colorful mix of goods, each unique to its region and creator. While some items are made with machines, they still keep their traditional charm. Let’s look at some art expressions that need to be said.

Textiles: South America's ancient textiles date back over 10,000 years, with their roots in Peru. Multiple pre-Incan civilizations contributed to their creation, such as the Chavin, Mochica, Wari, Paracas, and Nazca cultures. Incas inherited a rich textile tradition, thanks to their skillfully crafted camelid fibers such as vicuña, llama, or alpaca into beautiful designs, showcasing their family, home, and societal status. 

Their textiles were inspired by their reverence for the Sun, Mother Earth, and various deities, they reflect their deep respect and admiration for these divine beings. Vibrant hues such as red, purple, orange, blue, yellow, cyan, and green are captured in their creations. For thousands of years, the Inca people used natural dyes derived from plants, minerals, and insects. Among the insects was the cochineal, a small insect that inhabits cacti.

Woodcraft: Peru has a rich tradition of woodcarving that began with Spanish religious sculptures and colonial furniture for churches and convents. Local artisans craft a variety of items in this style, including religious figurines, masks, altars, and toys. Skilled sculptors in Cusco create detailed sculptures of kings, dancers, warriors, and classical religious figures such as angels, the child Jesus, and the Virgins, often embellished with gold leaf.

One of the best expressions in Peruvian woodcraft is the “retablo”, a colorful, portable altar with intricate design. They're like little dioramas, in the past, Spanish priests originally used them to teach people about the Bible. You'll see all sorts of scenes - from complex religious or historical ones to everyday life in the Andes. 

Most of them come from Ayacucho and have flaps that open and close, decorated with intricate hand-painted designs of local flowers that are unique to Ayacucho. The bottom level is all about life on Earth. You'll see a hat shop, a cantina, or nativity scenes. The top level is heaven, where you'll find saints, sacred Andean animals, or even a musical group.

Ceramics: Ancient Peruvian ceramics bear witness to many cultures, these cultures once thrived there, each with its own distinct style and use. Among the first cultures was the Chavín culture, which produced exquisitely adorned ceramics featuring geometric designs and ethereal animals, while the Paracas preferred bright colors and geometric patterns as they frequently carved patterns into the clay.

The Moche culture used molds to enable mass production, they were famous for their lifelike art of humans and emotions, and their sensual ceramics shed light on prehistoric Peruvian sex customs. Pottery from the Nazca culture is prized for its vivid colors and striking designs and was used in burials and rites.

The Inca Empire was different as they focused on practical pottery. It had geometric patterns and animal shapes that reflected their emphasis on utility. Lima’s museums, like the Larco Herrera Museum, have large collections of these works, they will give you a glimpse into Peru’s rich culture.

Music and Dance: Since ancient Peruvian times, African, Asian, and European influence that Peru received, shaped music and dances as well. These cultures have unique backgrounds, preferences, rituals, music, and dances that come together in a beautiful mix. In Peru, music and dance are a big part of religious and community celebrations, allowing people to share their joy on special occasions. 

The traditional music and dances showcase the locals' deep love and mystery. Peru's national dances tell the story of the nation's past and have even earned recognition from Unesco as part of our world's heritage. When you come to Peru, be sure to explore four popular dances that capture the essence of Peruvian culture! Don’t miss dances such as the marinera, scissor dance, or huayno. You can get information about these and more Peruvian dances and music in this blog. 

Literature: Our country's literature has a significant impact on Peruvian art, the connection between modern art and literature is clear, as many Quechua works are part of Peruvian literature. We can appreciate ancient dramas like Ollantay, a famous piece of Quechua literature from the 15 century. This theatre drama tells the story of a humble young man and a noble inca young woman, basically, it’s a Romeo and Juliet's inca version. 

Another important piece in Peruvian literature is “Comentarios Reales de los Incas”, released in 1609,  written by the famous mestizo writer Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. The book "Comentarios Reales" discusses the history and culture of the Inca people in two parts. The first part compares the Incas to ancient Rome, and the second part criticizes the Spanish conquest of Peru. 

It emphasizes the negative impact of the conquest, such as destruction and civil warfare, instead of the promised conversion to Christianity. This book is highly valued as a masterpiece and a cornerstone of Latin American literature, but, some have questioned its use of memories and oral accounts. After gaining independence, Peru embraced romantic literature and guides on etiquette, with Ricardo Palma being a prime example of this. 

During the early 1900s, interest in indigenous people grew as it celebrated native culture, later, it became a literature movement called " Indigenismo". Influential writers such as Ciro Alegría, José María Arguedas, and César Vallejo led the movement. On the other hand, Mario Vargas Llosa is the most famous Peruvian writer, he became a leading figure during the "El Boom" in the 1960s. This was a period of rapid growth in Latin American literature, Vargas Llosa wrote many novels, plays, essays, and literary criticism.

He also wrote journalism,  thrillers, history, and autobiography, he won the Nobel Prize in 2010 for his skill at storytelling and his use of rich language. Their pieces are on exhibit at the Lima Contemporary Art Museum today, safeguarding this important cultural legacy for future generations.

Peru bursts in every aspect of arts and crafts, why don’t you discover more in person?  Viagens Machu Picchu can assist you in making your dreams come true in the ancient Inca Land! Travel with us to explore Peru differently and especially!












 

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