Opening Reception El Muqui
Photographs of Paccarik Orue
Featuring the work of RayKo's Spring 2015 Artists-in-Residence
Paccarik Orue's El Muqui
Cerro de Pasco is a historical city of 80,000 people in the Peruvian Andes, situated on top of one of the biggest sources of income for the Peruvian government: mineral deposits. Due to exonomic interests and the expansion of the mine, the city is doomed to disapear. The series El Muqui,narrates a story of daily lives and environmental concerns, combined with elements such as the local folklore and cultural traditions.
"El Muqui" is a folkloric character in the Andean mines who is highly respected, even feared by miners, and has a strong moral code. Popular tales talk about how he is aware of the miners desires and actions, but also playful with children. El Muqui is the center of many of the celebrations and traditions in Cerro de Pasco.
