The Art of Andean Retablos at San Diego Museum of Man - Photos and Story by Patty Mooney

I have long been fascinated by the indigenous people of South America and Mexico. Back in 1997, Mark and I visited Peru with special stops in Lima, Cuzco and Macchu Picchu. We went to several museums where we learned much about the culture and history of the Incans and Peruvians. And we trolled through several curio shops to see and purchase some of the local crafts.

What we did not see were any retablos, which are now being featured at the San Diego Museum of Man. So it is with great curiosity and fascination that we stepped into the exhibit last week. "The Art of Andean Retablos: Religion, Tradition, and Social Commentary" is the name of the exhibition. When they arrived in Peru in the 16th Century, Spanish Conquistadors brought retablos with them. In the "Old World" these retablos were used as portable altars, and warriors were known to carry them into battle throughout the Crusades.

The retablos of the "New World" became advertisements for the Catholic faith which seemed to spread like fire on a dried field.

The works of retablo artist, Nicario Jimenez Quispe are prominently featured in the San Diego Museum of Man exhibit. When I googled his name, I saw that he is relatively known in Spanish-speaking countries, but little has been written about him internationally. I hope this blog will help to change that.

One of the more striking pieces is Quispe's "Pistaku o Nakaq" which he constructed out of wood, potato, Plaster of Paris, paint, nails and metal hinges in 1995. It features three separate "floors" on which three separate time frames are depicted, with the rendering of grease from the bodies of human beings. The top, according to Quispe's description, shows "The colonial period with robed Spanish priests rendering grease from the bodies of Indian women and children to make bells for the Catholic church." The middle shows "Modern period with Pistaku's in plain clothes rendering bodies to lubricate planes, pay the foreign debt, and make bells."

And the bottom shows "Period of Sendero Luminoso with an armed military figure in the background and grease being used on the helicopters that attack the highland people."

When I saw this work and read the descriptions, I had the same sense of disorientation and disgust as when I was a teenager and read a passage in Leon Uris's "Exodus" speaking of how the skin had been flayed from Jews during the holocaust for use in lamp shades. I don't believe in "evil." I do, however, believe that these kinds of acts are perpetrated by people out of fear or ignorance.

Quispe also created works addressing the ongoing immigration issue, showing how people on both sides feel about it. Mexicans feel that America is and always has been their true homeland and that borders have been politically manipulated. Many of them live in constant fear of capture by police.

At the same time, Caucasian-Americans believe that Mexicans are sneaking through the border to take advantage of benefits that are in place strictly for the US citizens. Ghandi was fond of saying that there is always a middle ground, a place where both sides can come to some agreement. I feel that way, too; however, where is that middle ground? Can it truly exist as our population continues to skyrocket? Why can't we all just get along?