6.1.11

PISQUILLO IN THE CHANCAY VALLEY.

Happy New Year to everyone.

I want to start the New Year by writing a post about what is close to my heart; the Gauzes from the Chancay Culture in Peru.
I have from an earlier post Chancay Gauzes from Museo Amano, Lima, Peru wrote about these amazing textiles.

When I went to Peru on my third trip I contacted Museo Amano. My dream was to visit the Chancay Valley. I wanted to feel the atmosphere and breathe in where these amazing textiles have been woven, for so many years ago.

Here I am on my way with Museo Amano to the Chancay Valley.
The whole area is an archeological place, a dessert.

I remember I was a bit disappointed when seeing it the first time, because we (Mr. Watanabe, his nephew and I) where the only people there. Also there were no fencing and it didn't seemed like it has been taking care of by the Peruvian Government. For me that was surprising and sad, as I think this is a very important culture in the Peruvian history.

Mr. Watanabe told me that to him and his family this was there second home. They went there often once a week.
In the sand bones, broken pottery and textiles where still lying, surprising to me. I think it's sad the Spanish came and broke all these beautiful things, as they were hoping to find gold inside the pottery.
Mr. Watanabe had a very good eye. He told me he had been there so many times and also he was there in the 1950-60 when he and Mr. Yoshitaro Amano (the founder of Museo Amano) were doing the first archeological excavations.
The textile Mr. Watanabe found. It's a very simple piece and here it's not easy to see, but above and below the pattern there are two rows of a very simple leno with plain weave in between.
Today this textiles is hanging in my livingroom. In a future post I will show some close-up of the textile.
Ruins in Pisquillo.
Everywhere in Peru where textiles have been made there is water, this is the lake of Chancay. So beautiful.
I think it's the first and unfortunately also the last time I will ever see this amazing place. Mr. Watanabe told me that in 5-10 years it will probably disappear, as all the other villages in the Chancay Valley.
I think it's so sad. Deep down inside of me I was waving sadly goodbuy to this, for me very important place in the history of Peru; Pisquillo in the Chancay Valley.

6 comments:

  1. A fascinating place and how amazing that you found a piece of textile on the ground.
    I would be interested in seeing it more closely. By the way your article on gauzes is very interesting.
    Happy New Year!

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  2. Hello Aracne,
    This place; Pisquillo is unusual and Amano is fantastic. I would like to visit them again this year when my husband and I is on holiday.

    Thank you for the compliment about my small articles on gauzes. My dream is to publish a book about this for me amazing weaving technique. With different kinds of perspectives. Historical views, technical and also artistic / industrial ways how peole work with it today.

    Karina

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  3. Karina, go here:
    http://tanglewoodthreads.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-peruvian-weaving.html
    I love this cloth! Would you organize a textile trip in Peru? I would come and I know some ladies here in Florence that might be interested too.
    Blandina

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  4. Hello Blandina,
    The textile is beautiful. I have some of these andean textile too.
    I am more fascinated by the gauze and have also some f them, but they are so difficult to find and expensive.
    About a textile trip to Peru. This I have actually been talking with my husband about several times, as his spanish of course is perfect. And also I have held some lectures about my trip and many people have been interested.
    Last year two wrote to me and later on they went together, as there were a conference in Cusco.
    Right now I don't see myself making a textile trip. This year we are planning to go back in November and travel around.
    I will think of you, if we start concidering planning a trip.

    Karina

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  5. Hello Karina,
    I sent you an email last week-maybe it went into your junk file? I attached photos of some chancay gauzes that we have purchased. I would like to learn more about the history of the gauzes. If you could help me, my email is paminparis@msn.com.
    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete