Graciela Arias Salazar

Graciela Arias Salazar, by delving into the representation of the feminine and Amazonian mythological themes in her art, emerges as a courageous voice addressing issues within her immediate context. She uses her artistic expression to speak out against the negative situations she observes in Pucallpa, becoming a vocal advocate for change.

In her work, “The Virgin of Capinwí”, Arias Salazar seeks to highlight the contradictions of a society that appears to seek the purity of young women while exploiting them as sexual symbols. The choice of the capinuri, a natural branch in the shape of the phallus, allows her to question this double standard shockingly and symbolically. Through this representation, the artist criticizes how society constructs and perceives femininity, challenging imposed stereotypes.

The Amazon, for Arias Salazar, is the protective and reproducing mother of well-being. His representations of plant sprites in the form of animals and female figures act as messengers of nature, inciting reflection on our actions and the intimate relationship we should have with the natural environment.

Each element in the jungle becomes an energy that sends us a message, urging us to consider our interactions with the environment and preserve the ancestral knowledge of the region.
The artist advocates for the preservation of certain knowledge of the jungle, including worldviews and community knowledge.

She considers it crucial that this knowledge is not lost in the maelstrom of time, since it is essential for cultural identity and the intimate connection with nature.

Arias Salazar seeks not only to represent the Amazon that we have not yet forgotten, but also to contribute to its conservation and promote the importance of maintaining a respectful and balanced relationship with nature in these modern times.