-
Home
- Home Jesus Urbano
- Jesus Urbano
Jesus Urbano
"I was born in 1929 in Huanta, Ayacucho. My parents were farmers and my father was a strict man. So I left home to live in the beautiful city of Huamanga, where I took a variety of jobs, from selling shaved ice cones to working as a gardener, which led me to meet master artisan Joaquin Lopez. He crafted <i>retablos</i> ? dioramas illustrating life in the Andes using small, hand-modeled figurines housed in a colorful, hand-painted display box. <br><br>
"I asked him to teach me his craft, but he didn't want to at first. Thanks to his wife, he finally accepted as a helper. Little by little, I learned by watching. Later, with the help of Joaquin's son, I perfected my technique and eventually began to create my own pieces and designs. <br><br>
"When I finally mastered the technique, Mr. Joaquin mentored me and even became my friend. His friendship meant a great deal to me. <br><br>
"I think the roughest time in my life was when I had to leave my beloved in the 1980s Ayacucho due to terrorism. <br><br>
"I'd describe my art as charming. It is a reflection of life in the Andes ? its people and towns. I love to share these glimpses of Peru, and it motivates me to know that people in different countries appreciate my work and keep it in their homes. <br><br>
"Crafting retablos is the perfect complement to my life. It fills me with satisfaction when I finish a new design."
