Peru: Kingdoms of the Sun and the Moon - MMFA 2013

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

February 24- June 16, 2013

Peru: Kingdoms of the Sun and the Moon – Identities and Conquest in the Ancient, Colonial and Modern Eras.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts opens its doors to visitors to experience an exceptional collection of Peru's archaeological as well as anthropological, historical and artistic riches. On display are 370 works of art (paintings, sculptures, gold and silver ornaments, pottery, photographs, works on paper, textiles and videos) which came from almost fifty public and private collections, spanning 3,000 years of Peru's history.

The visitor will have a unique opportunity to discover faces of ancient people, the ancestors of the Peruvian land. Here are a few photos of quite unique ancient personalities.

Notice anguish and deep sadness written on the faces of the two people above. Were the prototypes or the sitters for the sculpted objects experiencing these emotions and the artists sensed them and brought them forth? Or did the artists project their own feelings into what they created?  We would never know, and it does not really matter. What matters to us - we have a chance to see faces of very ancient people who are a part of our common human heritage.

Above are two other faces. Surprisingly, the one to the right appears  to have African features. The one to the left is more stylized and even decorative but nevertheless very expressive. Both project some personal predicament, the burden of which has to be endured.

Two personages below are also portrayed in a stylized manner. They both hold a living creature which, most likely, represents a mythological entity or symbol. The one on the left is holding a mollusc called Spondylus, the one on the right is supporting a double-headed snake. Both have the corners of their mouth turned down, projecting not a happy expression. They also look somewhat bewildered and even dejected.

All people portrayed have their heads covered by a hat or a head piece. Were those also worn as if to hide the personal thoughts? Regardless of what we might know of those ancient times, these people's facial expressions speak for themselves and indicate that life for ordinary human beings in those ancient societies might have been quite hard. Their culture and religion were centred around human sacrifice. They all must have accepted this, yet did they indeed accept everything about it deep inside themselves, in the very core of their human nature? Their facial expressions seem to indicate that not all was well in their world, as they seem to tell us with their personal expressions throughout centuries.

Above, top left, is a photo of a funerary mask. Notice blue beads  hanging from the eyes, flowing down like tears. A death, even sacrificial, must have brought a lot of tears into at least some people's eyes, something they most likely had to hide.

Below that mask we see the examples of the gold royal finery. The royalty did not have to worry about being killed in a religious human sacrifice, they were free to enjoy a lavish life.

The exhibition also presents a number of more recent works, like, for instance, a set of exquisitely executed miniature silver furniture  made from silver wire (see to the left). It was made in the 18th century by an unknown artist. Were these pieces toys for girls from well to do families?

If you visit the exhibition, you will also see a number of remarkable paintings. Here are a few examples.

Here is an overview of several exhibition areas.

Click on images to enlarge them.

To find out more about this exhibition or its opening hours, visit the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts website.

You can purchase the book Peru: Kingdoms of the Sun and the Moon at the Museum's Boutique and Store.