MUCAHUA
Ceramics from the Amazon Jungle of Ecuador
Deep within the Ecuadorean Amazon overlooking the river Curaray, stands Lorocachi, a Kichwa territory located opposite Yasuni National Park, close to the Peruvian border. Lorocachi is named after the scarlet macaw parrot which frequently visits the area to mate and guide other wildlife to the surrounding lagoons.
The Kichwas are known for their intricate hand-crafted ceramics. Mucahua ceramics are traditionally made from three types of mud, rich in minerals and pigments, collected from the nearby river. They are covered in patterns, colours and shapes, believed to conceal meanings, capture thoughts and transmit the inner strength of makers. The designs symbolise forest spirits, forces of nature and the living creatures inhabiting the jungle.
The art of ceramic making is taught from an early age by elders of the community and it is considered a rite of passage for all young girls. Women that can transmit this form of knowledge through symbolism are highly respected within the community and named sinchi muscuyuc huarmi, a powerful and visionary woman.
While in Lorocachi, we were hosted by Susana, an artisan, a mother and a strong figure in her community. Susana explained that there are two types of Mucahua. Charcoal coloured ceramics blackened by smoke are used for serving food, whereas patterned ceramics are used for ceremonies and for chicha, a fermented drink made from a root vegetable called yuca.
MUCAHUA PATTERNS
Patterns are hand painted with a fine brush made from human hair and a thick black dye collected from a seed called Wituk. The seed produces a black pigment that is commonly used for ceramic decorating and body painting. Susana, like many other women, frequently dyes her hair with Wituk and paints her face with intricate patterns.
Ceramics are cooked directly over a fire pit using an old pot. During the cooking stage, ash is used to slow down the process and protect the ceramic from overheating. Depending on the size of the Mucahua this process can take up to 40 minutes. Once the ceramic is cooked and while the pot is still hot, a layer of tree resin called Shilquillu is applied all over its surface, fixing the dye and sealing the patterns with a glazed finished. The pot is then left overnight to dry and cool down.
Susana described how each community hosts different festivities such as Ayllu Jista, when women enter a period of high creativity and production. Every year the women of Loracachi aim to produce around eighty Mucahua each, for an important celebration in June where every ceramic is thrown into the air for maximum breakage. The Mucahua that break easily in small pieces are highly valued with the maker being praised for her skills.
During our visit in Lorocachi, we assisted a local NGO working with Kichwa communities in the area, aiming to support and assist them in preserving their culture and protecting their territory. Our contribution was to record the meetings and workshops through audio, video and photography and assist at the local school. Through these sessions, we got to meet the different families and slowly introduced ourselves into the community. The everyday routine of the locals is rigorous, unforgiving and full of surprises.
During a drawing workshop with both children and adults, many myths and spirits came to life. The adults presented maps of their territory locating how the spirits are spread all around their lands whereas the children illustrated anthropomorphic creatures that live in the rainforest.
The Kichwa world is full of spirits, myths and storytelling. Kichwas believe in three important spirits: Sungui, the spirit of the water, Nunghui, the spirit of the clay and the chacra (field) and Amasanga, the spirit of the forest embodied within the Yama Puma, the black jaguar. Animals, plants and nature in general are the embodiments of spirits and always form part of the ceramic designs. Diamond shapes symbolise the anaconda skin, elongated hexagon patterns represent the iguana, long and continues zigzag line signifies a flowing river and rounded black spots refer to the black jaguar
Sumak Kawsay - meaning “harmonious living” in Kichwa language – is a fundamental concept referring to the bond between humanity, nature, spirituality and the preservation of our world. Kichwa communities have been fighting against oil companies unlawfully invading their territories for decades.
The Kichwas have lead numerous protests promoting the rights of indigenous people, thus becoming the protagonists of an environmental movement against climate change in Ecuador and all around the world. In 2012, the Kichwa community of Sarayaku won an important case in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, recognising their right of consultation prior to any industrial project in and around their lands. This court decision marked a new chapter in the historic resistance of the Kichwas, opening the way for the filing of many other similar cases and encouraging other ethnicities to demand their rights.
“The culture of the Amazonian communities is the key to access the multiple worlds that flow beautifully and enigmatically under the green shade of the tropical forest”. — P.14 Mundos Amazónicos