Mohena Wood and Red Leather Bench from Peru 'Majestic Seat' Item ID: 2676641716

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“I started working in art due to the need to create my own job, since with two small children I could not work in an office. My husband worked for the state with a limited salary. I was a secretary before, but my friends told me that I had good taste when I did something like decorating boxes or making clothes for my children. They advised me to go to local fairs, and apply what I liked to my products, This earned me a mention in the Museum of the Nation with a cultural history of the province of Huancayo Peru. In a large shopping center I saw a little tree of carved gourds, but it occurred to me to make it geometric, and it was a novelty in stores. They invited me to more fairs and that's how I came to Novica, from its first founders.

“My maternal family taught me to persevere, and I was able to train with them. Little by little I participated in international fairs. I managed to give Design Development training to the Amazon Region through the Promperu institution. Not everything has been rosy, but I feel very proud to continue in Peruvian art. I especially thank Novica and their team, who have always been supporting us, giving us opportunities through thick and thin.

“In moments of crisis, I always intend to continue creating and teaching everything I have learned. Everything is possible if you put your mind to it, and I am training myself to be able to teach more and improve myself.”

Original Artist Story

Rocio Davila finds joy in living and creating, in realizing those little things that make life large. She has found artistic fulfillment in product design, working primarily with leather and gourds.

"Although I have taken courses in artistic design, I consider myself self-taught, since I have learned more from practice over the years. My work strives to show the inherent goodness of artisan labor, which is useful, durable, and ornamental. Through my own work, I enjoy sharing, and showing that we are able to do a labor of love in which we teach something of our own culture. I dedicate myself exclusively to this activity, and have formed a small working community of artisan families to generate a sustained production.

"My designs were exhibited in the United States (Miami) in 2000, and have been sent to other countries as well. At the same time, I have participated in special fairs locally. It has been a real challenge for me to dedicate myself to this art but, despite the difficulties, I have never been sorry. I am content, but not satisfied, with what I have achieved so far.

"For me, Novica is a challenge. I am aware that as far as product quality, Novica customers are very selective, but I have confidence that my works will prevail since two things are important to me: beauty and utility."

Davila's artistic and creative streak has taken her to explore different media and she enrolled in a design course offered by Lima's Art Museum. Apart from working with gourds, Davila designs unique home furnishings that bear her distinct mark, focusing only on natural materials. She filmed a documentary for the promotion of Peruvian art in the US and has been recognized by the Peruvian Embassy in Miami for promoting Peruvian culture abroad.