Discover Centro Colich

Strolling down the streets in my resident district of Barranco one evening, I found myself wandering into Central Colich, a hidden gem, exhibition space, boutique clothing atelier, and café.  One of my favorite places in Lima to frequent, Central Colich has a trendy, bohemian atmosphere with an ever-changing array of artwork, artisan jewelry, decoration and interior design, and high-quality clothing.  The house was first built in 1907 and owned by Austrian Santiago Colich, and after more than a century, it has been fully restored to its original glory, with high ceilings and colorful tiled floors.

On this particular night, I was pleasantly surprised to find the sculptor of the artwork featured in the current exhibit, “Apacheta,” present and enthusiastic to share his work. This title roughly translates to “wayside shrine” or “cairn” and alludes to the overlap of cultures and historical continuity. Six samples of work are currently on display and consist of a large wooden sculpture, two smaller obsidian sculptures, and three mixed-media paintings. The Limeño artist, Javier Aldana Rivera, graciously provided detailed and unpretentious explanations, elaborating on the context and physical qualities of each piece as well as providing a comparison of Peruvian past and present (specifically of the indigenous people) to that of the United States. His enthusiasm for the work that he produced and the messages that he was trying to relay was clear, and he even invited me to close my eyes and touch one of the sculptures, to challenge my initial visual impressions with the feel of the smooth yet imperfect surface of the obsidian – a metaphor for the piece itself.

About an hour after we began the private tour, a small group entered the gallery, and Javier greeted them with the same inviting smile and warm welcome that he had extended to me. I took that as my cue to leave and after taking a leisurely walk through the remaining rooms, I once again left with the affirmation that the Centro Colich was one of my favorite places in Barranco.

Javier´s work will be on display until the 13^th of July, so if you are in the Barranco area, be sure to stop by for a firsthand look.  If you are interested in incorporating a visit to Centro Colich in an arts tour of Barranco, contact Aracari for more information.