Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist January 2019 | Page 51

CULTURE CONNECT
gold leaf, especially with images of the Virgin Mary.
Peru is also famous for its colourful and vibrant textiles
from diff erent regions such as San Pedro de Cajas, Ayachucho
and Huamachuco, as well as for its many diff erent traditional
dresses, which vary wildly depending on the region and the
materials available. Textile weaving is integral to both the
livelihood and cultural identity of the Peruvian people. At
Peru’s Fabulous Treasures, one could appreciate the fi ne
embroidery, intricate designs and variety in the textiles that
Peru has to off er through 40 textiles and dresses from diff erent
parts of the country.
The material legacy left by our ancestors, besides helping
us in writing history and outlining a chronological line of
the development of our peoples through the centuries, also
helps in understanding the human nature and their view of
the world. Art plays a vital role in this context as it greatly
helps us in understanding the lifestyle of the people in the
bygone eras and how it can connect not only the ancient with
the modern, but also East with West, India with Peru.
The exhibition also featured the work of Indian artists Sujata
Pai, who borrowed from the themes, colours and shapes
found in these pieces to produce a beautiful collection of
Tanjore works.
Peru’s Fabulous Treasures thus gave its visitors not only
a chance to discover these cultures that built and ruled major
cities, designed sophisticated irrigation systems, practiced
trade and commerce and produced beautiful art, but also to
experience fi rst-hand how the ingenuity of ancient Peruvians
has infl uenced modern Indian art.
The second part of the exhibition began with a trip
through the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Peru, followed
by a collection of pieces of modern Peruvian art. These
included paintings from the world-famous Cuzco School,
whose defi ning characteristics were their use of religious
iconography and the predominance of red, yellow and earth
colours. They were also remarkable for their lavish use of
Peru’s Fabulous Treasures was on display at the main
venue of the National Museum, New Delhi, located in Janpath
Road till December 31st, 2018.
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 1 • January 2019, Noida • 51