Inkarri

The emergence of abstraction in Peru was rejected at first by those who believed the international nature of the style would undermine their national culture. Fernando de Szyslo, a pioneer of abstraction in his country, resolved this apparent contradiction by evoking in his paintings local indigenous traditions. Inkarri refers to a well-known myth that predicts the return of Tupac Amaru, the last independent ruler of the Inca, to avenge his execution at the hands of the Spanish conquerors. The predominant blacks and reds, colors often present in ancient Peruvian textiles and pottery, suggest the notion of the “black sun” and “black rainbow” mentioned in a Quechua elegy about Atawalpa, symbolizing the last Inca Emperor before the arrival of the Spaniards. At the same time, the loose brushstrokes that define the fluid bands of color are reminiscent of Mark Rothko’s work. De Szyszlo combines ancient references and contemporary aesthetics to ground his work in Peruvian history.