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| "Fiesta Popular" Characters from Ecuadorian Cultural Tradition |
My first idea include seven characters:
1. Diablo Huma
2. Cucurucho
3. Mama Negra
4. Angel de la Estrella
5. Inti
6. Mama Quilla
7. Payaso del Inca
I start my research with these characters, trying to find a common thread and thinking in the way they impact me. After this research I decide to discard Inti and Mama Quilla; even though these Inca siblings are important in the Ecuadorian Andean culture they are seen as the sun and the moon and they do not relate to the popular parades (fiesta popular) theme. Also, I decide to get rid of Mama Negra and Angel de la Estrella because I felt I did not had a strong connection with these characters because I never had the opportunity to go to Latacunga during the Mama Negra Festival. Diablo Huma, the Cucuruchos and Payaso del Inca are linked to my traditions and closer to my memories.
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| Construction of "Diablo Huma" (felt, thread & fiber fill) |
1. Diablo Huma is a traditional character from the indigenous province of Imbabura. Huma is a good devil that appears dancing during the Inti-Raymi festival, celebrating the sun.
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| Diablo Huma made with felt & thread |
2. The Cucurucho is a character that appears every year during Good Friday on the parade in honor of Jesus del Gran Poder. A wooden sculpture of Jesus from the 17th century is carried around old town Quito by pilgrimages as symbol of faith. The cucuruchos are penitents wearing purple robes that accompanied this march paying for their sins sometimes carrying a cross or chains in order to clean their souls.
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| Cucurucho ready to be sew |
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| Cucurucho getting fill with fiber |
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| Cucurucho |
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| Payaso del Inca in Progress |
3. Payaso del Inca is a character that originated on
New Years Eve. The tradition start with people wearing masks asking money for the year that goes away in a neighborhood called El Inca in Quito. Payaso means clown and the mask gives permission to break the rules. This character evolve during the years becoming an important presence in every fiesta popular around the city.
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| Payaso del Inca before being fill |
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| Payaso del Inca |
For the presentation of my in depth project I decided to use Otavalenean table runners as a background to complement the memories that attach my childhood to the largest indigenous street market, where usually the women are the ones selling handmade folkloric crafts. I used to visit the market several times during the year and still is my favorite trip every time I have the opportunity to go back to Ecuador. These crafts are part of my roots, they are unique and celebrate Andean culture.
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| Diablo Huma, Payaso del Inca & Cucurucho |
I feel I evolve from the small works to the in depth project because working with the orgonite skull for the small works gave me the hint of what should I do for the in depth project. I started with the idea of skull but then I attached to the candy skull . The idea of the candy skull made me realize of how important this skulls is for Mexicans and how they represent Dia de Muertos with this symbol. This symbolism was an eye opener; turning a light bulb on my brain making me think of how Ecuadorians have beautiful folk culture that usually goes unnoticed, feeling the need to embrace my roots. The process of the small works also help me choose what type of medium I wanted to use for the in depth and had an evolution process as well. I jump from the photography, to the drawing , to the mask until I had to used the restricted materials opening a new world of possibilities. My first idea was the banner but then I thought my work was to flat until I did the pillow with the jute fabric, this experience make me wanna do the cushions for "fiesta popular" using more suitable materials.
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