VOA文化艺术2024--Peruvian Women Heal Themselves with Song, Art

The 36-year-old Peruvian artist Sadith Silvano makes creations born of ancient songs.

Brush in hand, eyes on the cloth, the Peruvian woman paints as she sings. And through her voice, her ancestors speak.

"When we paint, we listen to the inspiration that comes from the music and connect to nature, to our elders," said Silvano.

The artist now lives and works in Lima, Peru, where she moved 20 years ago from Paoyhan. It is a Shipibo-Konibo Indigenous¹ community located in the Amazon.

"These pieces are sacred," she added. "We bless our work with the energy of our songs."

Official data says close to 33,000 Shipibo-Konibo people live in Peru. They are believed to come from the surroundings of the Uyacali river. Many moved to urban areas like Cantagallo, the Lima neighborhood where Silvano lives.

Hand-painted textiles like the ones she makes have slowly gained recognition. Known as "kené," these works were declared part of the "Cultural Heritage of the Nation" by the Peruvian government in 2008.

Each kené is special, Shipibo craftswomen say. Every design speaks of a woman's community, her worldview and beliefs.

"Every design tells a story," Silvano said while dressed in traditional clothing. "It is a way in which a Shipibo woman distinguishes herself."

Paoyhan, where Silvano was born, is far from Lima. To get there requires an airplane flight and a 12-hour boat trip.

In her hometown, locals rarely speak languages other than Shipibo. Doors and windows there have no locks.

Adela Sampayo, a 48-year-old healer who was born not too far from Paoyhan, moved to Cantagallo in 2000.

But she says that all her skills come from the Amazon River area.

"Since I was a little girl, my mom treated me with traditional medicine," said Sampayo. "She gave me plants to become stronger, to avoid getting sick, to be courageous²," she added. "That's how the energy of the plants started growing inside me."

Sampayo, too, communicates her worldview through her textiles. Though she does not paint, she embroiders⁴, and each thread tells a tale from home.

"Each plant has a spirit," said the healer, pointing to the leaves embroidered⁵ in the cloth. "And medicinal plants come from God."

The plants painted by Silvano also bear meaning. One of them represents pure love. Another represents a wise man. And another, a serpent.

"The anaconda is special for us," Silvano said. "It's our protector, like a god that cares for us and provides food and water."

In ancient times, she said, her people believed that the sun was their father, and the anacondas were their guardians⁶. Colonization⁷ brought Catholicism and their worldview changed.

"Nowadays we have different religions...but we respect our other beliefs too," Silvano said.

For many years, after her father took her to Lima hoping for a better future, she thought of her time in the jungle. Life in Paoyhan was not easy, but she learned to be strong at a young age.

"When we encounter difficult times, we overcome them with our therapy: designing, painting, singing," Silvano said. "We have a song that is melodic⁸ and heals our soul, and another one that is inspiring and brings us joy."

Few Shipibo girls are told to study or make a living of their own, Silvano said. Instead, they are taught to wait for a husband. And once married, they are taught to deal with problems, difficulties, or bad treatment.

"Even though we suffer, people tell us: Take it, he's the father of your children. Take it, he is your husband," Silvano said. "But deep inside, we are wounded. So what do we do? We sing."

The lesson is taught by mothers to daughters: If you are hurt at home, grab your cloth, your brush and leave. Go far away, alone, and sit. Connect with your kené and paint. And while you paint, sing.

"That's our healing," Silvano said. "Through our songs, our kenés, we are free."

Words in This Story

brush - n. a device with bristles⁹ typically set into a handle and used especially for painting

inspiration - n. a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation

sacred - adj. of or relating to religion, worthy¹⁰ of respect

courageous -adj. showing the ability to do difficult things

textile - n. a woven or knit cloth

craftswoman -n. a woman who is skilled in a craft

distinguish - v. to mark as separate or different

embroider³ - v. to decorate with needlework

anaconda - n. a large kind of constricting snake

1 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

2 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

3 embroider   

v.刺绣于(布)上；给…添枝加叶，润饰

参考例句：

• The editor would take a theme and embroider upon it with drollery.编辑会将一篇文章，以调侃式的幽默笔调加以渲染。
• She wants to embroider a coverlet with flowers and birds.她想给床罩绣上花鸟。

4 embroiders   

v.（在织物上）绣花( embroider的第三人称单数 )；刺绣；对…加以渲染（或修饰）；给…添枝加叶

参考例句：

• Yarn, Fabrics, Shawls, Textile Waste, Embroidery and Embroiders, Software Design. 采购产品纱，织物，披肩，纺织品废物，刺绣品和刺绣，软件设计。 来自互联网
• Carpets, Rugs, Mats and Durries, Cushion Covers, Embroidery and Embroiders, Curtains. 采购产品地毯，毯子，垫和棉花地毯，垫子掩护，刺绣品窗帘。 来自互联网

5 embroidered   

adj．绣花的

参考例句：

• She embroidered flowers on the cushion covers. 她在这些靠垫套上绣了花。
• She embroidered flowers on the front of the dress. 她在连衣裙的正面绣花。

6 guardians   

监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者

参考例句：

• Farmers should be guardians of the countryside. 农民应是乡村的保卫者。
• The police are guardians of law and order. 警察是法律和秩序的护卫者。

7 colonization   

殖民地的开拓，殖民，殖民地化； 移殖

参考例句：

• Colonization took place during the Habsburg dynasty. 开拓殖民地在哈布斯堡王朝就进行过。
• These countries took part in the colonization of Africa. 这些国家参与非洲殖民地的开发。

8 melodic   

adj.有旋律的，调子美妙的

参考例句：

• His voice had a rich melodic quality.他的音色浑厚而优美。
• He spoke with a soft husky voice in a melodic accent.他微微沙哑的声音带着一种悠扬的口音。

9 bristles   

短而硬的毛发，刷子毛( bristle的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the bristles on his chin 他下巴上的胡楂子
• This job bristles with difficulties. 这项工作困难重重。

10 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。