If you're in Lima anytime from now until June 24, I highly recommend a trip to Galería Germán Krüger Espantoso to see contemporary Peruvian artist Kukuli Velarde's "Patrimonio" exhibit.
Velarde's paintings and ceramics are visually striking. They are also intelligent and provocative, mixing cross-cultural ideas with feminist commentary, often with a healthy dose of irreverence and a sharp slice of humor.
Her ceramic works mirror those of pre-Columbian terracotta figures, those of the Wari, Nazca, Moche and more, but with facial expressions and bodily postures that tear them out of the past and into the present. Equally irreverent is her series of self-portraits ("The Cadaver Series"), life-size images that play humorously with art history, gender roles and sexuality.
I'm a travel writer, not an art critic, so I'll keep my commentary to a minimum. If you want to see Kukuli Velarde's work for yourself, head to Galería Germán Krüger Espantoso (Av. Angamos Oeste 160, Miraflores) before June 24. The gallery is open from 11 am to 8 pm (Tuesday to Sunday); entrance is free.
You can also see works by Kukuli Velarde on the artist's website.
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Photo © Tony Dunnell