We are still: part one

For at least 2000 years, a character has been constantly reproduced in Cajamarcan ceramics. The callanas or pieces scattered in the huacas or sanctuaries in the mountains bear witness to this presence.

The character wears a smile -sometimes with teeth, sometimes without-, has an oval head and has different proportions and shapes: with hair -upward or downward- or without it; with short or long ears or without them; with dot, circle or double circle eyes; with scrolls or tufts or without them.

In the Andean world there is no individual, the isolated person: the word suq that names the one is the same that refers to the other. One is another. Perhaps this explains another characteristic of the character: he usually has a similar one inside himself, as if he were his inner self or his centre. This is ratified in the fact that when he is not with his arms up, he is also intertwined with others.

But the character is not only in ceramics. In the rock art -the most remote manifestation of the culture- they are also present, which would demonstrate their continuity. In the cliffs of the Apu Yamalán -whose marks could be no less than eight thousand years old- we have found a similar image, of great size, painted in red.

Alfredo Mires

in: El Ñaupa

Dear readers,

in the last few months, after the death of Alfredo Mires, we have noticed the improper use of his books, texts, images and recreations. As an association and as a family we hold the copyright of these publications and we are trying to protect them in different ways. Sharing this text -the introduction of "El Ñaupa"- is one of these ways.

Thank you for disseminating, for sharing, for learning and for helping us to protect the intellectual and artistic heritage of Alfredo, as well as of the community members who participated in the production of the books of the Network.