BOLIVIA - THE ARTS
Since Pre-Columbian times, Bolivia had a great cultural and intellectual life. Architecture, ceramics, temples and other symbols scattered throughout the country give testimony to a culture with an advanced social organization. Not only were the kollas, the first inhabitants of the Andes Mountains and part of the highly organized Aimara family; so were their first conquerors-the Incas-who imposed their language, Quechua, as well as their art and culture. The Incas brought a new system of roads and aqueducts, hanging bridges, and surgical and medical practices. Other Incaic influences included new designs and geometric shapes on clay objects; new rituals and songs were also introduced. Centuries later, with the arrival of the Spaniards, the age of the horse and the wheel was begun. The era is also characterized by churches, and images, woodcarving and embroidery. During the colonial period, the intellectual center was the city of Sucre; it was also known then as Charcas or Chuquisaca. Important scientific and legal works were written there. One example is El Arte de los Metales, or The Art of Metalworking by the Spanish priest Alvaro Alonso Barba, written in 1640. Another work concerns silver mining at Potosi, written by Nicolas de Martinez Arzanz during the 16th century.
SCULPTURE -
The world of sculpture was in full evidenced by its stone sculptures. It was enhanced, however, during the colonial period by the use of softer materials. That was how Tito Yupanqui, in 1576, sculpted Our Lady of Copacabana. Years later, during the 17th century, Diego Quispe Curo, bequeathed his Cristo Atado a una Columna, or Christ Tied to a Column. It was also during this era that gold and silversmithing reached their maximum splendor. One of the most exquisite examples is La Ultima Cena, or The Last Supper, which was created early in the 18th century and embossed in silver.
PAINTING -
Religious subjects and majestic portraits were the earliest forms of oil painting in Bolivia. Today, there is more of a tendency toward an art of manners and in this arena the following painters are notable: Arturo Reque Meruvia, Victor Cuevas Pabon, David Crespo Gasteld, Antonio Sotomayor, the muralist Roberto Berdecio and Gil Coimbra. Abstract painters include Alfredo Da Silva and Marisa Luisa Pacheco, Alfredo Laplaca and Oscar Pantoja. Many Bolivian artists have been inspired by indigenous artwork, and among them are printmakers Genaro Ibañez, Ramon Katari and Max Portugal. Emiliano Lujan and Marina Nuñez del Prado are well known for their stone sculptural pieces. The Aimara people's culture eventually fused with the Incas' and later, with that of the Spaniards. The result: a rich culture, quite varied in the areas of sculpture, painting, literature and architecture. The culture maintains the best of the colonial period; at the beginning of this century it decided to recuperate and incorporate the art of its indigenous predecessors. The movement was led by Ricardo Jairries Freyre and is best illustrated in his work Leyes de la versificacion, or Laws of Versification. Since mid-century, others have distinguished themselves in the literary arts: Campero Echazo, Guido Villa-Gomez, Jestis Lara, Otero Reiche, Fernando Ortiz Sanz, Yolanda Bedregal, Oscar Gonzalez Alfaro and Enrique Viana.
DANCE & MUSIC -
Dance and music are the most popular cultural expressions found in Bolivia. Through them, the people give free rein to their joy, especially during carnival and the regional celebrations of both the kollas and the yungas. The mixture of indigenous and Spanish cultures gave birth to dances in honor of Our Lady of Copacabana, called El Gran Sicuri, which uses drums and flutes, the puli-puli dance, characterized by its flowery crest and feathers, and the participation of women dressed in the traditional garments of the highlands. In the Oruro carnival, the diabladas, or devil-dancers, are known for their masks and costumes. The dancers are generally accompanied by guitar, harp, flute, or a small guitar called a charango. Because of their alternating displays of coquetry and dignity, the cueca and the huayño are popular with couples. Bolivian celebrations bring together a whole gamut of folklore and national traditions. For evening entertainment, look for peñas and night club shows in Santa Cruz, Cochabamba and La Paz. There are plenty of outdoor cafes, places where one can see folkloric dances, and hear folkloric music. Those who love disco dancing have a choice of establishments; there are discotheques that play rock, salsa, and/or a combination. Visitors who want entertainment that is a little more sedate can check local newspapers for listings. Theater and concerts are presented throughout Bolivia's major cities.