Hand-Painted Ceramic Nativity Retablo from Peru 'Festive Rites' Item ID: 2677065915

"I was born in 1982 in the beautiful Peruvian province of Huamanga. This region is known for our our religious devotion and our colonial cities filled with churches from the times of the viceroys.

"As an artist, I feel great passion for the art of my homeland and much pride in my family and our roots.

"I grew up in one such lovely, traditional and modest town also known for its great carvers and sculptors. My father was an excellent artisan and I was first attracted to his work when I was only six and watched him craft retablos, or dioramas in vivid colors, filled with meaning.

"After school, I'd hurry to my father's workshop and he'd let me help mold the figurines for his retablos and even paint them. I found this fascinating and also relaxing. So day by day with constant practice, I began mastering the craft. In fact, by the time I was 16, I entered one of my retablos in an art contest at school. It won first prize and I was so happy!

"This marked the beginning of my career as an artisan.

"My parents were hardworking people who also worked the fields on our small farm. My father had the retablo workshop in our home. I helped him all I could, but it wasn't always easy to balance school work with our art. This made me aware of the sacrifices my parents made and their great love for me as they helped shape me into the artisan I've become.

"It's still a challenge to mold the figurines by hand. It takes precision and patience. "My greatest challenge is to give form manually to the characters in a scene. You can achieve it only if you truly love what you do.

"Peru, its history and people inspire me. I am a part of this culture and I feel proud to represent this beautiful province, where so many talents are dedicated to the arts. It's an honor to show the world a small part of me.

"I became interested in crafting retablos because it's a family tradition. Having witnessed the talent and enthusiasm my father puts into his work reminds me that there's always something I can learn from him. I admire him so much and he has given me the values which I'm teaching my own children.

"I love crafting retablos, from shaping and painting to decorating them. As an artisan, I am a free and happy man."