Works of neo-Amazonian art

The Weltkulturen Museum has acquired nine paintings from the Peruvian ‘neoamazónico’ school through the non-profit project Tonkiry Artists-for-the-Rainforest. This contemporary art movement can be traced back to the painter Pablo Amaringo (1938-2009), who founded the Usko Ayar art school in the Peruvian Amazon region in 1988. The 2025 newly acquired works are by artists who trained under Amaringo and his students: Harri Mires Villacorta, Gledis Panduro Vazquez, Sami Paola Ruiz Macuyama, Alexander Shimpukat Soria and Dimas Paredes Armas.

The vividly coloured acrylic paintings are closely linked to the cultural landscape of the Amazon rainforest and its human and animal inhabitants. Indigenous traditions, shamanic knowledge and spiritual references are reflected in the works. This is evident not only in the motifs of the paintings, but also in the artists’ inspiration. Some of the painters are practising shamans. Harri Mires, for example, incorporates into his works visions inspired by ayahuasca – a spiritual plant-based drink – which trace back to the late artist Pablo Amaringo.

With these new acquisitions, the Weltkulturen Museum is expanding its existing Neo-Amazonian collection, which was established by the former curator Mona Suhrbier through the purchase of paintings by Amaringo and his students in the early 1990s.