The very essence of Andean beliefs is varied
and diverse. They have four important
attributes that encompass their worldview: collectivity, reciprocity,
transformation and essence.
The
first feature, collectivity, is based on the belief and thinking that the group
as a whole took priority over the individual.
This concept was also apparent within their art as well, in which the
individual’s role, the nonstop patterns and supernatural imagery held much more
focus and attention than things like historical detail or portraits. Their artists were not known by their
individual names rather by their styles.
While some may see this as basic or general (as the focus and direction
were far from specific appearance), they were able to represent themselves with
dynamic and sophisticated pieces.
Within
the feature of reciprocity, the Andean belief was that one part was essentially
countered and connected to another part.
The people found their inspiration in the constellations that depicted
familiar animals, and, in that connection with their actual life forms on
earth. This too, shows through with
their art, as they believed there was an importance surrounding opposites,
pairs and even mirror images of various kinds.
Their sculptures showed earth in contrast with the light and with
shadows. Their textiles had features of
identical birds or double-headed creatures.
The
third attribute is surrounding transformation.
This Andean belief was that the universe was full of transformation;
moving from one aspect of existence into that of another. They viewed things like life and death, the
changing of the seasons, the planets appearing and disappearing as they moved
across the sky and the progression and repeating of human history as being
natural and a constant cycle; one affecting the other. This type of cyclical thinking is also a key
aspect involving their art forms as they often focused on two things acting as
one.
The
fourth and probably most important of all Andean worldviews is essence over
appearance. It is this thought that had
a major impact on their art works. Their
art centered on the idea of the symbolism and inner core of the piece rather
than the actual appearance it represented.
The Andean art threw out the idea and worry that their images and
artistic expressions would be viewed by the human audience, and instead,
created pieces for the supernatural world and the afterlife. In many cases, and as seen with the Lanzon
cult image, these works were often placed in areas that were completely
surrounded by darkness.
I have to say that I appreciate and
value this last Andean worldview of essence over appearance. In my experience, society today is way too
focused on appearances, and having the capability to produce a work of art
without this as a major focal point seems a bit liberating and freeing. The concentration then becomes the overall
process and the motivation behind it. It
becomes about creating it for yourself and your own values as opposed to
someone else’s. The expression becomes
your own and there is no caution or hesitation about what other’s may think or
feel about your piece.
