Poncho c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have a Poncho, woven by an Aymara artist around the 18th century, utilizing wool and pigment in a fibre art form. It’s incredibly striking; the colours are so warm and the patterns seem to vibrate! What do you make of it? Curator: It’s utterly captivating, isn't it? For me, this isn't just a piece of clothing; it's a living story woven into the very fabric of the Andes. The Aymara people have a deep, ancient connection to the land, and these textiles are how they express that. Look closely. Do you notice how the motifs repeat and intertwine? Editor: Yes! There’s a kind of… visual rhythm to it. Curator: Exactly! And that rhythm echoes the cyclical nature of life, the agricultural seasons, the passage of time in the mountains. Imagine wearing this, feeling the weight of history on your shoulders, a walking poem. Each element tells its own tale, whispers secrets only understood by those who share that heritage. Don't you feel a sense of reverence here, almost like touching a piece of eternity? Editor: I do! It's more than just pretty patterns. I had no idea it carried so much meaning. I feel so much more informed about its role as more than a garment. Curator: The most wonderful thing is it opens up conversations we weren’t necessarily expecting. We started talking about a simple poncho and, pow!, we are travelling through history, symbols, ancestral connection, visual poetry. Amazing!