But really now, there’s more to Colombia (or Mexico and Venezuela for that matter) than Betty La Fea (she with the bushy eyebrows, bangs from hell, and the ridiculous braces) and, yes, even beauty queens. And Objeto/Colombia (Object/Colombia) can attest to this.
Currently on view at the Metropolitan Museum, Objeto/Colombia showcases this South American country’s furniture, containers, clothes, games and ritual items from four major geographical locations: The mountainous Andes region, the Pacific, the Caribbean and the Orinoco-Amazon basins. With the support of Honorary Consul of Colombia Jorge Araneta and Charge d’ Affairs Stella Marquez-Araneta, the exhibit is mounted by the Government of Colombia through the Embassy of Colombia, in cooperation with the Met Museum of Manila and the Department of Foreign Affairs. Ongoing until Feb. 26, the exhibit also coincides with the Second Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting of the member countries of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) which is being held in Manila until today.
"This exhibit is a collection of our artisans’ laborious work which expresses their rich traditions through the designs of their products. The great diversity of the Colombian people and ethnic groups can clearly be gleaned from these elaborate pieces made using a variety of materials including ceramics, textiles, basketry, wood, leather and glass, among others," says Colombian Foreign Minister Dr. Carolina Barco.
Colombia is one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of the Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and Venezuela). Located in the northern part of South America, Colombia is surrounded by Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. With 42 million residents, Colombia’s capital and largest city is Bogota. The country’s cultural diversity is brought about by the interaction of Spanish mestizos, blacks, whites and migrants from all over the world.
A cursory glance at the handicraft pieces shows the cheery disposition of Colombians and the festive way that they design their craft. Think fiestas and banderitas or tiangges featuring our local handicrafts such as baskets and clay pots. Like the Filipinos, Colombians make full use of natural materials that abound in their respective locales. But beneath the color and pageantry lie a people’s collective memories of a glorious past, a creative adaptation to the influences of the present, and a legacy for future generations.
The importance of ceremonies and rituals among indigenous groups of Colombia, specifically those living in the Amazon region, can be seen from the handcrafted macerated dolls and stitched ceremonial clothing made from yanchamas, a bark used for a variety of ceremonial clothing. As to what the dolls are for, your guess is as good as mine. But perhaps, it’s the closest thing to the Barbie doll kids of the Amazon can have.
The Tucano indigenous community, found along the northwestern Amazon region along the Vaupes River, is known for its hunting, fishing, and agricultural skills. The exhibit shows the simple lifestyle of this ethnic group via fruit bowls and support for cups cut and assembled in bamboo, and the Tucano bench wood that reminds you of large sushi dishes.
The Bogota Modern Artisan, meanwhile, displays its skill at jewelry design and toys, including a set of necklace and bracelets laithed in wood and colored in vinyl and marionettes dressed in indigenous cloth and carved and assembled in wood.
A necklace of threaded seeds and animal bones from the indigenous community of Picunas Vaupes looks very similar to the necklaces used by indigenous Philippine tribes from the north and the south. A brightly colored replica of a cockpit in clay will make you think of our very own noisy cockpit arenas.
The pre-Spanish Colombians’ belief in the afterlife can be observed in the raft of the spirits carved in balso wood, which is similar to our ancient bulul figures of the northern Philippines and those found in Palawan. Speaking of similarities, a rectangular basket made by the Waunana indigenous community of the Amazon looks suspiciously like our tampipi of yore.
"Our cultures have so much to learn from each other and this exhibit is an attempt to build on what is common to our cultures and bridge the gap presented by our diversity," says Barco, the daughter of former Colombian President Virgilio Barco.
So move over Betty, the cultural treasures of Colombia are out to conquer the hearts of Filipinos. How to attract the thousands of Betty La Fea fans, you ask? How about inviting the whole cast to grace the exhibit and promote Colombian culture? Now that would be a riot.