Andean Beliefs

            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.