Carrying Coca: 1,500 Years of Andean Chuspas
Nicola Sharratt
Coca bags, or chuspas, represent one of the most enduring and resilient forms in the rich history of Andean weaving traditions. These small, elaborately decorated bags have been a constant presence in the archaeological, written, and visual record of the Andes for at least 1,500 years. In the details of their design and decoration, chuspa styles are testament to centuries of shifting trends and technologies in Andean textile arts. However, as carriers of coca leaves, chuspas are much more than aesthetically pleasing and technically sophisticated artworks. For millennia coca leaves have occupied an essential and unparalleled place in the daily lives, ... Read more
Distributed for the Bard Graduate Center
Exhibition Schedule:
Bard Graduate Center
(03/27/14–08/03/14)
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About Nicola Sharratt
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