The first permanent display at the British Museum of Peruvian and Andean culture has opened in the Wellcome Trust Gallery at an event attended by Peru’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism.
Part of the Living and Dying exhibition, the new display focuses on the stories of the people of Peru and the Andean world, how they survived and thrived across thousands of years by establishing a special relationship with the sea and land. The objects on display shine a light on how these societies understood their environment as an animate being, which could be threatening but also looked to for survival, healing, subsistence, and protection.
Split into two sections the display explores the richness and value of marine life, looking at the threats of climate change and illegal fishing alongside the mythical ocean and the symbolic meaning of the spiny oyster. Elsewhere the tradition of sailing in totora reed boats is demonstrated through digital media fully encompassing the special relationship held by the groups who lived and continue to live in the region with the sea and islands.
The second section of the display focuses on the land and its resources, which were seen as a natural force to provide life. Here, the objects demonstrate fertility ceremonies and celebrations to honour the Pachamama (Mother Earth). Elsewhere, the showcase looks at examples of coca chewing and amulets, and the key value of natural fibres coming from plants and animals used for textile weaving. The display includes a full range of material culture, ranging from pottery and textiles to metalwork and conch shells.
The new case is the first permanent space devoted to stories about past and present cultures from the coast and highlands of South America. It will allow the British Museum to share and amplify the work of scholars, artists and members of source communities who have been working with the collection.