Muyu Seeds. Semillas Círculo
Serie de dibujos / Series of drawings
Pigmento de la flor del Q’olle sobre papel de fibra de cabuya / Q’olle flower pigment on cabuya fiber paper
2024
Registro fotográfico: Graham De Lacy – Joburg Contemporary Art Foundation, JCAF
Inspiradas en la geografía de Moray, el impresionante yacimiento arqueológico situado a pocos metros de Mil Centro, estas obras (realizadas con pigmento seco de la flor local q’olle sobre papel de fibra de cabuya) aluden al movimiento curvo que las terrazas de Moray transmitieron a la artista durante su residencia de dos meses en Mil Centro. Se inspiran en las narrativas que rodean a Moray, representándolo como una semilla y un espacio ceremonial consagrado al agua, que ondula en cada línea trazada por el q’olle.
Inspired by the geography of Moray, the impressive archaeological site located a few meters from Mil Centro, these works (made with dried pigment from the local kjolle flower on cabuya fibre paper) allude to the curved movement that the terraces of Moray transmitted to the artist during her two-month residency at Mil Centro. They draw inspiration from the narratives surrounding Moray, depicting it as a seed and a ceremonial space dedicated to water.
Moray, aymoray moraya
Muyu, del quechua “círculo-circunferencia-circular” es la palabra que se utiliza para referirse a las 4 anillos – Quechuyoc muyu, Sima muyu, Intiwatana muyu y Kuichi muyu – que conforman Moray, el yacimiento arqueológico inca situado a 3500 msnm. Moray fue un laboratorio agrícola y un centro ritual del agua, en donde se experimentaba la adapatación de gran variedad de semillas gracias a sus terrazas circulares y los microclimas que generan. También, en un diálogo entre sus canales y escaleras con los astros – el sol, la luna y las constelaciones más importantes de la cosmovisión andina (Colca – Las Pléyades; Amaru – Escorpio y la gran constelación de la Cruz Andina) se entiende la importancia de este espacio, su energía cósmica y vital. Moray es cobijado por la imponente Cordillera de Urubamba en donde se encuentra el Apu Chicón y el Apu Huacayhuilque (La Verónica), y más de cerca el Apu tutelar Wañinmarcca, que en sus faldas acoje a Mil Centro y a las dos comunidades campesinas indígenas de esta región: Mullak’as Misminay y Kacllaraccay.
Moray ha guardado semillas y es a su vez la gran semilla de Mil y de Mater, el inicio para experimentar, conectar y visibilizar el diálogo de alturas, el alimento en vertical, la comunión de todos los seres que viven aquí.
Muyu, from Quechua “circle-circumference-circular” is the word used to refer to the 4 rings – Quechuyoc muyu, Sima muyu, Intiwatana muyu and Kuichi muyu – that form Moray, the Inca archaeological site located at 3500 masl. Moray was an agricultural laboratory and a water ritual center, where the adaptation of a great variety of seeds was experimented thanks to its circular terraces and the microclimates they generate. Also, in a dialogue between its canals and ladders with the stars – the sun, the moon and the most important constellations of the Andean cosmovision (Colca – The Pleiades; Amaru – Scorpio and the great constellation of the Andean Cross) the importance of this space, its cosmic and vital energy is understood. Moray is surrounded by the imposing Urubamba Mountain Range where the Apu Chicón and the Apu Huacayhuilque (La Verónica) are located, and more closely the tutelary Apu Wañinmarcca, which in its foothills shelters Mil Centro and the two indigenous peasant communities of this region: Mullak’as Misminay and Kacllaraccay.
Moray has kept seeds and is in turn the great seed of Mil and Mater, the beginning to experience, connect and make visible the dialogue of heights, the vertical food, the communion of all beings living here.
Moray durante la temporada de Sequía.
Fuente: MORAY, Enigma de la Ingeniería Incaica.
Q’olle
El q’olle (Buddleja coriacea) es uno de los pocos árboles endémicos de los Andes que logra crecer a extrema altura (hasta los 4400 msnm). De flores naranjas brillantes que desprenden un olor dulce intenso, es la planta que rodea a Mil, el centro interdisciplinario de investigación e interpretación en los Andes que se nutre de Mater Iniciativa, la organización que busca conectar la megadiversidad del Perú.
Por su color, olor y resiliencia, el q’olle es una planta especial y vital para las comunidades andinas que se sitúan en las cercanías a Moray. Es un botánico medicinal desinflamatorio y de sus flores se desprende un pigmento amarillo quemado intenso con el que las mujeres tejedoras tiñen sus lanas.
The q’olle (Buddleja coriacea) is one of the few endemic trees of the Andes that can grow at extreme altitudes (up to 4400 masl.). With bright orange flowers that give off an intense sweet smell, it is the plant that surrounds Mil, the interdisciplinary research and interpretation center in the Andes that is nourished by Mater Iniciativa, the organization that seeks to connect Peru’s megadiversity.
Because of its color, smell and resilience, q’olle is a special and vital plant for the Andean communities located near Moray. It is an anti-inflammatory medicinal botanical, and its flowers give off an intense burnt yellow pigment with which women weavers dye their wool.
Q’olle; sus flores disecas; la gama de colores que sale del q’olle cernido.
Ecosistemas Mater en Ecospheres – Joburg Contemporary Art Foundation, JCAF
Muyu Seeds fue una serie comisionada para Ecosistemas Mater, la instalación de Mater Iniciativa que hace parte de Ecospheres, la primera exhibición de la trilogía dentro de la temática “Worldmaking” de la Fundación de Arte Contemporáneo de Johannesburgo, JCAF.
Muyu Seeds was a series commissioned for Ecosistemas Mater, Mater Iniciativa’s installation part of Ecospheres, the first exhibition of the trilogy within the theme “Worldmaking” of the Jobourg Contemporary Art Foundation (JCAF).
“The human drive towards meaning-making leads us to both consciously and unconsciously build our world from social conditioning, scientific rationality, artistic traditions and our own struggle for survival,” says JCAF’s Executive Director, Clive Kellner.”The exhibition is an immersive experience that includes installations of hydroponic plants, oceanic- inspired knitted textile, botanic photography, sound and meditative paintings of migratory birds.
(…)
Can we think about our custodianship role in relation to the earth as a politics of care? The research initiative Mater, linked to the Peruvian restaurant Central, initiates projects between artists and communities in the Andes and Amazon. Their approach is rooted in a profound understanding of the relationship between nature and culture, and is especially reflected in the culinary practices of Central. Mater’s installation in the exhibition combines the organic elements of soil, tubers and bulbs with hand- crafted textiles and abstract food photographs to represent a micro-typology of the Andes.”
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