La cultura Mochica fue una civilización precolombina cuyo territorio se extendió a lo largo de la costa norte del Perú, aproximadamente entre los años 100 y 700 D.C. Ésta fue una cultura que alcanzó importantes desarrollos en cerámica, arquitectura y metalurgia. Además, los Mochica destacaron por su dominio en técnicas de irrigación, lo cual les permitió dominar el desierto. Canales, acueductos y sistemas complejos de regadío les permitieron desarrollar una agricultura variada y con importantes excedentes.
Otro aspecto en el cual se destaca el avance de la pueblo Mochica es su amplio dominio en el mar, al ser grandes navegantes y explotar los recursos marítimos de su territorio. El mar, además es objeto de respeto y devoción, lo cual se demuestra en su idiosincracia reflejada en sus manifestaciones artísticas y culturales.
La vida cotidiana de los Mochica incluía un importante elemento religioso, dedicando buena parte de los recursos en la realización de rituales y la adoración de sus divinidades. Los sacerdotes formaban de una aristocracia que tenía gran influencia en el manejo de los asuntos públicos y en la sociedad en general.
A pesar del dominio de los Mochica sobre su entorno natural y su desarrollado sistema político, no pudieron evitar el fin de su civilización, el cual fue causado por un fenómeno meteorológico de gran magnitud. El fenómeno del Niño azotó el territorio Mochica con lluvias torrenciales y escasez de recursos marítimos durante un periodo de 30 años. Esta situación trajo consigo importantes cambios políticos y despertó la necesidad en los habitantes de buscar soluciones extremas. En la ideología Mochica, el sacrificio humano a los dioses se concebía como de forma de ganar el favor divino y mitigar los efectos nocivos del clima.
La colección que presento se inspira en el periodo de declive de la civilización, la cual pone en evidencia una contradicción entre la grandeza alcanzada el pueblo Mochica y su dramático declive, el cual fue acompañado por acciones desesperadas por revertir su ocaso. Piezas coloridas y fastuosas que dan cuenta del apogeo en la agricultura y la pesca, se combinan con accesorios e iconografía que, como una sombra, remiten al periodo del ocaso. Se da cuenta también de cómo el mar que les inspiró tanto respeto a los Mochica, termina siendo elemento determinante de las condiciones climáticas extremas que tuvieron que sobrellevar hacia el final de sus días.
En particular, el fin de la civilización Mochica está representado por la iconografía de San Jose de Moro, sitio arqueológico que contiene diversos cementerios que albergan los restos humanos producto de los sacrificios a los dioses. Los iconos de arañas, cangrejos y peces que están presentes en la piezas de cerámica halladas en los espacios funerarios, se integran a piezas que representan los momentos de gloria de la civilización. Se busca con ello transmitir que una de las lecciones extraídas de la historia de la cultura Mochica es que a todo ciclo de bonanza le sigue un periodo de dificultades; que en los momentos felices, la sombra de la muerte y la desesperanza está presente.
The Mochicas were a pre-Columbian civilization which extended along the northern coast of Peru (between 100 and 700 A.D.). This culture made significant achievements in pottery, architecture and metallurgy, as well as irrigation techniques that allowed them to dominate the desert. Water canals, aqueducts and complex water distribution systems enable them to grow mixed crops and hold important surpluses.
Another aspect of the Mochica civilization is their mastery over the sea as skillful sailors which allowed them to benefit with the maritime resources in their territory. In the Mochica idiosyncrasy the sea is also highly respected and worshipped as evidenced in their artistic and cultural expressions.
The everyday of the Mochica has a significant religious component, involving several resources in rituals and adoration of their divinities. The religious authorities were an aristocracy with leverage in the public matters and the society in general.
Despite the Mochica mastery over the nature surrounding them and their political system, they were unable to prevent the end of their civilization caused by a major weather phenomenon. El Niño phenomenon hit the Mochica settlements with heavy rainfall and shortage of maritime resources for a 30-year period. This situation brought several political changes and the adoption of extreme solutions from the population. In the Mochica culture, the human sacrifice to the gods was a mean to being favored by the divinities and to obtain a relief from the harsh weather conditions.
The present collection is inspired in this stage of the Mochica civilization where the it is evident the contrast between he greatness of their culture and their dramatic decline along with desperate actions to revert their fate. Colorful and vibrant pieces that manifest the rise in agriculture and fishery are combined with accessories and imagery that evoke the darkness, the twilight period. It is shown also how the highly praised sea of the Mochica ended up causing the most extreme weather conditions which they endured until the end of their time.
The end of the Mochica civilization is represented by the San Jose de Moro iconography, an archeological complex that includes several burial sites with the remains of human sacrifices to the gods. The spider, crab and fish images depicted in the pottery pieces discovered in the funerary spaces are combined with items of the most glorious times of the Mochicas. This combination seeks to depict the lessons learned from the Mochica civilization, that every cycle of prosperity is followed by difficult times, that even the most joyful moments may be accompanied by the shadow of the death and desperation.
Another aspect of the Mochica civilization is their mastery over the sea as skillful sailors which allowed them to benefit with the maritime resources in their territory. In the Mochica idiosyncrasy the sea is also highly respected and worshipped as evidenced in their artistic and cultural expressions.
The everyday of the Mochica has a significant religious component, involving several resources in rituals and adoration of their divinities. The religious authorities were an aristocracy with leverage in the public matters and the society in general.
Despite the Mochica mastery over the nature surrounding them and their political system, they were unable to prevent the end of their civilization caused by a major weather phenomenon. El Niño phenomenon hit the Mochica settlements with heavy rainfall and shortage of maritime resources for a 30-year period. This situation brought several political changes and the adoption of extreme solutions from the population. In the Mochica culture, the human sacrifice to the gods was a mean to being favored by the divinities and to obtain a relief from the harsh weather conditions.
The present collection is inspired in this stage of the Mochica civilization where the it is evident the contrast between he greatness of their culture and their dramatic decline along with desperate actions to revert their fate. Colorful and vibrant pieces that manifest the rise in agriculture and fishery are combined with accessories and imagery that evoke the darkness, the twilight period. It is shown also how the highly praised sea of the Mochica ended up causing the most extreme weather conditions which they endured until the end of their time.
The end of the Mochica civilization is represented by the San Jose de Moro iconography, an archeological complex that includes several burial sites with the remains of human sacrifices to the gods. The spider, crab and fish images depicted in the pottery pieces discovered in the funerary spaces are combined with items of the most glorious times of the Mochicas. This combination seeks to depict the lessons learned from the Mochica civilization, that every cycle of prosperity is followed by difficult times, that even the most joyful moments may be accompanied by the shadow of the death and desperation.
