Caroline Banks

Claudia Andujar: The Yanomami Struggle – Barbican Curve. Post 2 of 2

Photo by Caroline Banks PIN IT
Drawings of rituals and myths by Naki uxima Uxiu theri. (Portuguese name Orlando)

This exhibition has way too much to include in just one post.

I’m looking here at a drawing project undertaken from 1971-1977 by Claudia Andujar and Carlo Zacquini. They brought paper and felt pens inviting the Yanomami who were interested to represent their daily life, myths and rituals.

Several artists emerged from this group, producing hundreds of drawings. See a few here.

Photo by Caroline Banks PIN IT
Men dancing at a funeral and intercommunal alliance (reahu). By Taniki. 1977
Photo by Caroline Banks PIN IT
Drawings by André (Portuguese name), a shaman.
Photo by Caroline Banks PIN IT
Drawings by Porako (Portuguese name). 1976

These images, whether of daily life (woman giving birth – bottom left) or of creation myth (Yoasi with pregnant calf muscle – top right) have a delicacy and tenderness that I find very moving.