Stories: Peru Artistic Travel

A transient and brilliant rainbow spanning across the commanding andean mountain range...majestic pink dolphins skimming through the waters of the Amazon...the  intricate tattoos blanketing the mummy arm of the only known female Inca priestess...gently lapping waves along the shores of a private-island retreat... Inspiration comes in many forms and in our recent discussion with Peruvian-artist Grimanesa Amorós, we discussed her work and how a trip with Aracari through her homeland can be a source of inspiration for new ideas. An interdisciplinary artist, Grimanesa makes use of various mediums including sculpture, video, and lighting, Grimanesa  to complement her diverse areas of interest in social history, scientific research and critical history.  During her absence from Peru for formal training and to showcase her professional work, Grimanesa sourced and continues to source her inspiration from the fascinating and diverse aspects of her home country. Grimanesa began studying at the Art Students League of New York, where she explored painting and printmaking for several years before realizing that her true calling was working with light instead of paint. Despite moving at a relatively young age to pursue her career as an artist, Grimanesa has always had a deep connection with her homeland. In our recent interview with her, Grimanesa said she “was exposed at an early age to the colors, the variation of the landscape - coast, sierra and jungle along with all the tropical fruits that Peru has to offer.”  She often found herself having deja vu moments when natural landscapes and breathtaking phenomenons reminded her of home. Trips back to her Peru were particularly moving for Grimanesa and provided her with inspiration for several of her projects.  Among these was a trip to the Uros reed islands in Lake Titicaca.  These unique floating islets, situated in the world’s highest navigable lake, are

Peru’s premiere fashion event kicks off this week with Lima Fashion Week (LIF Week) taking place at the Jockey Club between April 8th and 12th.  Setting the stage for the country’s best designers, the shows allows them to showcase their latest collections and to give attendees, and the world for that matter, a chance to see some of the creativity that has been brewing here in Peru.  With amazingly talented designers and a wide variety of local fabrics and raw materials, Lima Fashion Week is sure to be a treat and is deserving of the world’s attention. In the past, Peru has never been a country particularly known for its fashion, and the industry here is still in its infancy compared to the Paris’ and Milan’s of the world. However, it is going through a period of rapid expansion and initiatives such as this week’s events aim to be the platform that helps to continue to expose Peruvian talent and thus, contribute to the development of the industry as a whole. This years LIF Week, the fourth edition of the event, is set to feature 15 designers, including several who have already achieved international acclaim such as Ani Alvarez Calderón, Ana María Giulfo, and Claudia Jimenez as well three young, up-and-coming designers  (Alessandra Petersen, Itala Testino and Yirko Sivirich) who are participating for the first time.  Support for the show includes prominent national brands Illaria, Basement, and Kuna, and LIF features fashion icon and special guest Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, the infamously bold and eclectic Spanish designer.  Get ready fashionistas, its about to get haute.

The Ship, The Lady, and the Lake follows the extraordinary account of Meriel Larken’s quest to restore the “Yavari” steamship in Peru’s Lake Titicaca.  The story vividly describes her account of finding the decrepit ship rotting away in the Lake, how she discovered the ship’s incredible history, and her project to restore and preserve this piece of history. In 1861, the Peruvian government ordered the construction of the steamships for Lake Titicaca to transport cargo and passengers between lake ports in Peru and Bolivia.  One year later, the British-built ship arrived at the southern coast of Peru, and the government faced the daunting task of transporting the ship through the Andes to Lake Titicaca, which arrived in thousands of separate pieces.  Piece by piece and with the help of mules, the ship was carried over 12,500 feet to the world’s highest navigable lake where it was reconstructed for use.  Larken’s book recalls this epic journey and puts the remarkable feat into perspective.  Following its reconstruction, the steamship was operated by a British company and provided transport for the region’s exports and moved passengers between lakeside communities for more than a century.  Around 1975, the ship became the property of the Peruvian Navy, and unfortunately, due to a lack of resources, was allowed to fall into disrepair. By the time Meriel Larken discovered the Yavari in 1985, it had been rotting away for years in a Puno port.  Fortunately for Larken, having been in fresh water and a high altitude, the ship’s iron hull was preserved and deemed worthy of a restoration.  This is where her quest began to restore the ship to its former glory and turn it into a major tourist attraction.  As she describes in her book, years of dedication and hard work paid off, and in 1998