ceremonial dress of evo morales ayma. tiwanaku january 2015
TRANSCRIPT
COSTUMES FOR THE INAUGURATION OF
PRESIDENT EVO MORALES AYMA
AT TIWANAKU ON JANUARY 21, 2015
Dennys Ramos Huanca
Wamaniwanka
Artist in charge of costume design
Note. Greetings friends around the world. I am the artist who designed the ceremonial
costume of President Evo Morales. If somebody. Somewhere in the world. Need a costume
for a special event. I offer my services design and development. We work with materials of
Los Andes. Using precious metals and natural fibres. Write to:
https://www.facebook.com/wamaniwanka
PRESENTATION
Prehistory
According to Ibarra Grasso, we have a prehistory of at least 30,000 years. Human
population was diminished during the last Ice Age, and life was difficult. Our ancestors
were creative in the face of these adverse conditions. It was their creative capacity that
enabled them to survive during thousands of years. During the interglacial period, they
had access to great amounts of food and natural resources, providing them with
sufficient energy and time to develop new knowledge and technologies, facilitating the
birth of our native peoples.
Historical processes in the Andes
According to archeology, our nomad, hunter and gatherer ancestors refined their
knowledge and tools during the lithic and archaic periods to adapt to different
territories. During the formative settling period, some peoples domesticated foods such
as corn and potatoes, also animals such as the llama, easing the way for the origin of
peoples and cultures. During the urban and classic periods, important cities were
created where knowledge such as astronomy, architecture, ceramics, textiles, metallurgy
and others were developed, thus paving the way for the emergence of great states,
among them Tiwanaco; its people later united in the Tawantinsuyu.
The knowledge of our population
History and anthropology show that, whenever a population declined, its remainders
were assimilated into others. This fact made it possible for spiritual, cultural, material,
and technological knowledge to be passed on from generation to generation, expanding
geographically. This knowledge continued to develop, even to the Inca period. Some of it
survived throughout the colony, and some until the Republic. But a large part of that
knowledge disappeared due to the European colonization. Currently, our population
preserves only a small part of its original knowledge. But the state, the education system
and communication media have provided us with access to the knowledge and
technologies of humanity.
Knowledge applied for the presidential costumes
At present, we are a society that cultivates its own spiritual, cultural, social, and political
knowledge; usually, we add to it other knowledge and technologies we acquire by
contact to the world. This is why, in producing the costumes for our head of state, we
applied, on the one hand, our ancestral knowledge and technologies, but on the other
also the knowledge and technologies of humanity, thereby saving time and effort – as
our ancestors would have done. The same as our forefathers, we are realists and
creative; we adapt to world conditions, enduring over time.
THE PROCESS OF PRODUCING THE PRESIDENTIAL COSTUMES
The need for costumes
The need for new costumes for the new term of office of the government of Evo Morales
arose on October 12, 2014, after he won the election. But the official order of beginning
and completing the work was delayed until two weeks prior to his taking office. To meet
the objective, a working team was created, which took over different tasks, among them
general coordination, research, planning, design, production, and assembly of the pieces.
This made it possible to carry out all the work.
The production process
To begin with, the research team studied the sources on the urban and classic Tiwanaku;
then the sketches were made and then digitalized, thus obtaining mock-ups of the
pieces. These digital scale models were used to try out shapes and colors. The design
came up with two versions, the first one on a backing of woven alpaca wool, the second
one on vicuna wool. The design on the vicuna fabric was chosen; then the parts were
produced and put together.
1. THE TEAM
A.P. Dennys Ramos Huanca (Wamaniwanka) – artist in charge of design
Ph. D. Jorge Miranda – researcher in charge of the presidential costumes
Dennys Ramos Huanca – Hand worker
Manuel Sillerico – Hand worker
THE CH’UKU TO COVER THE HEAD
Description of the Ch´uku
The head gear is the most important piece. It is designed on a dark airampu (a highland
cactus variety) color. On the front part, it carries a gold ornament, highlighting the face
of the central character of “The Gate of the Sun”. On the right and left side parts, there
are Pumakunturis; at the top, a Chakana with open spaces. In the back, a two-headed
Qatarí, accompanied by winged pumas.
Symbolic weight of the Ch’ uku
The dark cerise color is inspired by the airampo cactus, which survives in the worst
climatic conditions. It blossoms and produces fruit even in years of severe drought. A
Chacana has been included in the upper part to receive the wisdom of the Four Suyus of
the Alaxpacha. The side parts are protected by two Pumakunturis of the Akjapacha,
Alaxpacha. On the back part, a cosmic Qatarí, with fish heads propitiating prosperity, is
snaking along.
The gold piece on the front
Another important complement is the gold piece on the front of the Ch´uku. Its design
was taken from the center character on the “Gate of the Sun”. Several theories exist
concerning this figure. We think that it represents the Inti Willka, Father Sun, sower of
life on earth. The purpose of this piece is for our political leader to receive the clarity and
wisdom of the Inti Willka, (Father Sun) who must guide his thinking and actions.
THE UNKU FOR COVERING THE BODY
Description
In studying Tiwanaku we found that many of their clothes were made of llama, alpaca
and vicuna wool. Vicunas have a very soft and clean coat; this is why the presidential
Unku has been made of a fabric woven with the wool of this animal. The Unku has two
trimmings with iconography where we can discern an almost abstract human figure that
is repeated in series. To complete this design, a gold pectoral has been foreseen to
emphasize the breast area.
Symbolic weight of the Unku
Vicunas are wild animals grazing peacefully in the Andes. When a baby is born, it gets on
its feet after a few minutes only and immediately starts to run. These animals are light
and agile and hard to catch. We hope that these characteristics will transfer to our Chief
of State. On the other hand, we do not want him to walk alone, so the design includes
two columns of Amawtas on the fringes of the Unku to accompany him.
Symbolic weight of the pectoral
A gold pectoral is added to complete the Unku. Its gold color will attract the rays of
Father Sun, radiating its sparks. The Sun is a spiritual being conveying clarity and
wisdom. This is why in this design it carries the face of Tata Inti since it is placed close to
the heart. We wish that this being guide the heart of out Head of State, generating good
emotions to be translated into good actions.
THE BAIZE OR NATURAL WOOL TROUSERS
Their function and symbolic weight
Although they are of simple design and made mainly to protect against the cold, they
also have a symbolic function. Our native authorities prefer to show-off their own
trousers, made of their own materials in their own fashion. This is why these trousers
are a noble item used by our Jilakatas, Mallkus, Apu Mallkus, Kuracas, and Amawtas as
an example of continuity over time. They represent the respect of their cultures and
traditions, in spite of brand trousers currently available at a lower cost.
THE WISKHU USHUTA OR SANDAL
Its symbolic function and weight
The sandals are made of llama leather obtained from the lama’s throat. They gather the
memory of our ancestors, the hunters of llamas, herdsmen, farmers, artisans, builders of
villages, architects, politicians, warriors and religious persons walking the Thaki (path)
of our society. The wearer of these sandals must continue to walk the path of our
civilization with the same secure, agile, and light steps of our forefathers, aware of his
space and time on the Pacha (earth), feeling and caressing the territory with his feet.
THE SCEPTERS TO BE BORNE BY THE PRESIDENT
Their function and symbolic weight
The scepters that will be handed over shelter the mountain spirits. The main one is
made of four noble materials, namely gold obtained from the north of La Paz which,
according to Dr. Miranda and Cancio Mamani will furnish him clarity of thinking; silver
from Potosí will bring forth good emotions; copper from Corocoro will strengthen his
will power to serve his people; the onyx from Illimani will make him open to change,
providing him with the strength and wisdom to lead our country.
(no included)
TRANSITION TO A NEW TIME
Renaissance of a civilization
Apart from the main characters, we are going through a period of historic transition,
entering a new, contemporary, historic and cultural era. Our sacred symbols, spiritual
values of our people, their ritual, cultural, social, and political practices are being
recreated. The foundations of our civilization are being drawn up. To achieve that, we
rely on a new state and a new generation of leaders arising out of Mother Earth, in this
new Pachakuti.
Chuquiagu, January 2015
Wamaniwanka
Dennys Ramos Huanca
Artist in charge of costume design
Provincia Inquisivi – Departamento La Paz – Bolivia
Cell (00591) 78804830
https://www.facebook.com/wamaniwanka
(Translated in: http://www.conferencenetworkvargas.ch/)