Retablos of truth and terror
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
[Many may interpret a retablo as simply a souvenir from Peru. It is a painted wooden book with small doors that open to reveal clay figures frozen in action, perhaps singing or dancing. What they don’t know is the type of story each one tells, and its hidden meanings. Like a secret, it opens, revealing a shrine of memory. These figures stand no taller than my finger, but their faces carry a line of history. A painted sky lies above them for perspective. Nevertheless, red spills like wounds, with bright colors trying to calm the scene. For Peruvians, retablos are much more than just simple decoration; they are a creation of emotion and history. Within these pieces of art, a whole universe unfolds, featuring scenes that depict sorrow, survival, and personal stories. What appears to be a decoration is, in truth, a past hidden in plain sight with a paused scene.]