New Genres: inca culture

A value enhancement on the Inca Empire at PROA Foundation

November 23, 2024 | nadiaevangelina

The exhibition “Los Incas. Más allá de un imperio" (The Incas. Beyond an Empire), at PROA Foundation in Buenos Aires, offers a comprehensive look at the Inca civilization, highlighting its political organization, cosmovision, and cultural legacy. Curated with an interdisciplinary approach, the exhibition brings together textiles, ceramics, metallurgy, and ritual objects, accompanied by explanations of their historical context and symbolic meanings.

Inca (1400-1532 A.D.) Aríbalo con representación dragonflies and other insects, molded and painted 23.8 x 18.8 x 14.3 cm (Museo Larco, Lima)

The exhibition addresses the absence of the concept of “art” as we understand it today. Objects were not symbolic representations of the Incas but embodied a sacred and powerful essence. Their value resided in their connection to the supernatural and in their function within ritual and everyday practices. For example, canopies, figures used in offerings, were not decorative objects, but animated bodies with a ceremonial and spiritual purpose.

One of the highlights is the exploration of the quipu, the system of knotted strings used by the Incas to record economic and narrative information, revealing the sophistication of their state administration. This device and depictions of agricultural terraces and the chasquis system illustrate how the Incas efficiently managed an empire that spanned more than two million square kilometers.

PROA Foundation

Colonial Early Colonial Quipu numeric ca. 1500-1600 Twisting and knotting 72 x 78.5 cm (Radicati Collection of Quipus, Temple Radicati Foundation-UNMSM)

Marcos Chillitupa Chávez, “Genealogy of the Incas” (1837), oil on canvas and painted wood frame 195 x 471 cm ( Museum of Art of Lima).

The exhibition not only highlights the technological expertise and political vision of the Incas but also their relationship with the sacred. Objects such as conopas and camelid textiles show how art and spirituality converged, materializing beliefs in animated bodies and agricultural ceremonies. The exhibition also includes audiovisual resources documenting their influence in northwestern Argentina, connecting past and present through archaeological sites such as Salta and Catamarca.

In terms of curatorial design, the exhibition manages to balance its pedagogical value with a powerful visual narrative, inviting the public to reflect on the lasting influence of the Incas on contemporary Andean culture. In addition, the agenda of educational activities complements the experience, making this exhibition a must-see for both history buffs and those seeking to delve deeper into Latin American cultural heritage.

“Los Incas. Más allá de un imperio” provides a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in one of the most fascinating civilizations of the Americas.