Chiquitania Art

The art of the Chiquitania (more frequently referred to as Chiquitano art, and pertaining almost always to that of the Jesuit missions in the Chiquitos region alone) shows a fascinating synthesis of two radically different artistic styles. This blend was both derived from and further stimulated the creative imagination of local artists and craftsmen. They incorporated a variety of thematic motifs - some of European origins and others rooted in pre-hispanic iconography - into the decoration first of church façades, then of other works.This intriguing cultural heritage, often referred to as “Mestizo-Baroque”, traces its origins to the late 17th century, when against almost impossible odds, a series of ten Jesuit missions were established in the Chiquitania. Here, European tastes gracefully merged with local indigenous traditions to give birth to a truly unique culture and an equally unique artistic expression, one that has survived in essentially unchanged form to this day.

Almost all high-quality Chiquitano art that is made today is done so using time-honoured techniques and designs that have been passed down from generation to generation in the remote towns of the Chiquitania. These individuals (known as artesanos) learned their ages-old craft from an unbroken line of fellow-artists dating back to the arrival of the Jesuits, more than three centuries ago.

Today, a handful of families, some of them direct descendants of the artists who worked with the Jesuit missionaries centuries ago, create works of art that derive from this beautiful synthesis. These can be seen in their fabrics and jewelry, and especially in their matchless wooden carvings, many of which grace the region's churches and other buildings.

Wooden Madonna and angels in the "Mestizo-Baroque" style: cathedral of Concepción

The best ateliers today utilise a highly durable, fragrant wood (generally Spanish cedar, cedrela odoratal), taken from sustainably managed local forests. Following strict rules for use, these craftsmen respect the high conservation value of the region's flora, much of which is found nowhere else on earth. In fact, some of the region's artesanos hold the coveted Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification as proof of their contributions and solid commitment to the environmentally sound and socially beneficial use of natural resources. Respect for nature being what it is in the region, the same consideration is generally exercised by those artists who work in other mediums (e.g., fabrics and metals).

The best work with both the Centro Amazónico de Desarrollo Forestal (CADEFOR) and Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Gran Chiquitania, two well-known Santa Cruz-based non-profits that help provide better economic opportunities to the Chiquitania's inhabitants while promoting ecological awareness and conservation. Other local non-profits, such as Artechiquitano, and the Centro de Investigación, Diseño Artesanal y Comercialización Cooperativa (CIDAC), often in cooperation with the Fundación para la Conversación del Bosque Chiquitano (FCBC), also work to represent these artists at home and abroad, a considerable undertaking given the extremely limited resources at their disposal.

Wooden siren with trumpet in the "Mestizo-Baroque" style	Wooden siren with floral motif after drawing from the church of San Rafael

Know that when you purchase one of these items, either from their shops directly, or through the non-profits groups who support them, you are contributing in an important way to the well-being of these people as well as the sustainability of their craft. The few dollars you spend will do a world of good to many people.

Other artists work in fabrics or ceramics (e.g., those in Guarayos Province), or gemstones (those in Germán Busch Province). These works, often functional pieces for home use, tend to have a stronger indigenous motif, in many cases representing patterns and themes that have remained essentially unchanged for a millennium or more.

Hammock from Guarayos Province

These objects are hand-carved (or -loomed), hand-painted (or -dyed), and made one by one. There is no mass production, no computer programmes, no cheap add-ons or anything to mar the uniqueness of each piece. Everything is organic: the materials - be they wood, fibre, metal, or stone - are found naturally in the Chiquitania and are not subjected to any chemicals, artifical mordants, or other treatments. Left as they are, most Chiquitano art pieces will last a lifetime.

If you're after Chiquitano art but can't make it to the source, you're pretty much out of luck: precious little of it makes it out of the region, and what little of it does is almost always sold for exorbitant prices - and the poor artists wind up getting the shaft from the importers. Prohibitive transport costs, scarcity of quality product, and intense competition from works of inferior provenance also conspire to make obtaining Chiquitano art very difficult, even from direct sources. It's also quite pricey: I've watched the prices that my collection commands skyrocket over the past decade. (Considering I gave away a lot of it, I suspect there may be others who are pretty happy with this news, too.)

If after all this, you're still not disuaded, but cannot buy in person from the artisans themselves, send me an email and I'll put you in touch with any of them directly. The overwhelming majority of the supposedly socially enlightened importers trafficking in the art of the Chiquitania one sees on the Internet are neither natives nor responsible, and precious little of their (very healthy) profit ever makes it back to the Chiquitania. Not convinced? Ask for an annual report and decide for yourself who profits in this game.

Wooden praying angels after those from the church of Santa Ana