Achikanain
8" x 8"
Woodcut and collage on burlap
Artists' statement:
Achikanain means “footprint” or “trace” in Wayuunaiki, the language of the indigenous Wayúu people who inhabit the northern tip of South America.
Our woodcut prints a trace representative of a diverse landscape, much like the Latinamerican lands which shelter 60% of the planet’s biodiversity. In these works the materials speak of the interdependent relationship between nature and society: burlap, a plant fiber material used by farmers, represents the basic and essential. The metallic colors represent the mineral richness of the earth: the elements transformed by the indigenous goldsmiths of these territories. Xylography integrates these two materials through impact, creating a unique imprint in each work and leaving a trace on the essence of the earth, just like people do when they inhabit a landscape. Since time immemorial, indigenous peoples have known how to leave a respectful trace.
Casa Jaguar is a contemporary multidisciplinary arts studio based in Barcelona. They are a collective of Latinamerican artists in diaspora (visual artists, musicians, writers, illustrators, photographers, philosophers, filmmakers and ecologists) seeking to celebrate the history and diversity of Latinamerica through contemporary art and audiovisual technology.