MAXIMO LAURA

Fiesta dela Cosecha II

Maximo Laura is Peru's preeminent weaver of contemporary tapestries and rugs. He is a third generation weaver from the district of Ayacucho and a graduate of the University of San Marcos. His works are in collections throughout North and South America, Venice, France, Finland and Denmark.

Maximo Laura brings a unique and fresh worldview to the traditional Aubusson, Kilim, Soumak and Anillado techniques. Working In 100% Andean alpaca, llama, wool and cotton, Maestro Laura weaves a world that reflects his personal as well as cultural views. His works are three-dimensional representations of Andean mythological themes drawn from Peru's rich history of pre-Colombian cultures such as the Incas and their modem day descendants the Quechua Indians.

Espiri tu Mayor XII

The art of hand weaving was started in the Central Andes 3000 years ago. Since then its sons have inherited the hands of the Intipamakin, sun, and have connected their lives to art and to drawing through a universe represented by three deeply interconnected worlds: Hanan Pacha, the world above, Kay Pacha, the world we walk upon, and Uku Pacha, the underworld. Maestro Laura's work is a three- dimensional expression and celebration of that interconnectedness which for Maximo is still alive and with him.

"My work is the rediscovery of the rich, unique, fascinating and millennial historical textile source of the Andes combined with the innovations in the international field of tapestry. It has created its own niche within plastic arts. The historical sources are Inexhaustible and are yet to be assimilated.

The search for a personal, up to date, language Is a broad challenge that I shall meet. In this collision between the traditional and the contemporary, I study the tools, the invention of weaving techniques and their application. I try to multiply the potentials of chromatic expression, keeping the Iconographic language authentically Peruvian."

-Maximo Laura Taboada

Choqueruno en Los Andes	Morado del Condor V