Blog 2 Flora & Fauna Motifs in Mestizo Arts

photo of cherimoya tree

The incorporation of indigenous flora and fauna in the mestizo decorative arts seem to represent the cultural blending that was taking place between indigenous and european art traditions. In reading "Eye of the Other; The Indigenous Response," I learned that the first time the term mestizo was used was in 1925 to describe the architectural style seen in 17th and 18th century Peru.

In the ornate carvings on the pillars and doorways of buildings there is a serpentine layering of the local flora and fauna to give the feeling of walking through a dense overgrown jungle. I was intrigued to read that specific plants such as the cacao plant and cherimoya tree could be identified. Both are fruits that I have tasted and enjoyed eating during my travels in Central and South America. The next time I eat these fruits I am going to remember how these were also the foods of the pre-colonial people such as the Incas.