Misak
An homage to the Misak culture of the Cauca Department in Colombia, “These drawings evoke the indigenous thought of the Misak, children of the downpour, children of water. In my conversations with them I have understood that they are the protectors of the paramos, of water, and they look after the mountain and the high-altitude lakes, because they feel they are sacred places that must be protected. Symbolizing this are the plants from mother earth, like the frailejon, a symbol that gathers water, as well as the hummingbird, a messenger from the gods who lets us know that a loved one has died, that they have reached the beyond, and that their soul is safe. The feather is the hummingbird feather, wisdom, protection, levity… the spiritual part of each of us.
The reason for placing these symbols in a Misak sachet is because it evokes their ancestral culture: textiles are the only writings of these indigenous peoples. The indigenous peoples of Colombia have no written language; they come from a spoken culture inherited through the symbols that are in their weavings. The history of this indigenous people lies in those Misak textiles. These fabrics are ultimately used as protective belts, called chumbes, that represent the abundance, fertility and protection of the home and nature.
Through this collaborative collection of cards by Ana González, Artefino has pursued a commitment to the different communities and regions of our country, Colombia, a commitment to environmental conservation, to nature and to our paramos. Through our commitment we hope to support the inherited traditions of indigenous peoples, in this case the Misak indigenous group, cherishing their ancestral techniques.
Each detail of this collection is artisanally produced.
These pieces take their first step in Barichara, in the Santander Department, with the Barichara Paper Workshop (Fundación San Lorenzo de Barichara), where the paper was produced. The paper is made from the ripe blades of the giant cabuya plant, which involves softening and macerating the fiber, determining the shape of the sheet that is later pressed and finally left to dry.
