Celebrating the 60th-anniversary of Peru-India diplomatic relations, the Embassy of Peru in India has inaugurated an exhibition of iconic Pucará bulls that signal a convergence of Peru’s cultural mystique and artistic heritage.

The Embassy of Peru in India has unveiled an exhibition dedicated to its iconic Pucará bulls on the 60th-anniversary occasion of establishment of diplomatic relations with India. A gateway to the discovery of cultural tapestry of the Andean region, the Pucará bulls stand guard on rooftops, traditionally serving as a convergence of artistic grandeur and symbol of protection.

From the origins of the Pucará bulls to creations by various Peruvian artists who have shaped its rich history, the exhibits showcase arresting insights into Peruvian culture.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, and presided over by Javier Manuel Paulinich Velarde,  Ambassador of Peru to India and various other delegates along with over a 100 art aficionados. Visitors can experience some of the finest of these vibrant ceramics till October 13, at the IIC Kamaladevi Complex, New Delhi.

“If there is an artistic expression that can truly represent the Peruvian culture, it is that of the Pucará Bull, an emblematic piece of Peruvian ceramic art. It is seen as a protector of households, happiness and goodwill and represents the ancient culture of the Peruvians,” said Velarde.

“What is exciting is that, if I completely immerse myself in my culture, bull has an important place in our culture and values. So if you are creating such beautiful expressions, the more and more you get to know each other, the more you feel we are all linked. The deeper you go, the more commonality you find. And if there are any differences, they are very superficial differences,” said Lekhi.

Deeply emblematic of ancient Peruvian artistry and heritage, these bulls, adorned with intricate designs on colourful ceramics, embody tales from the Andean landscape, mythology and spirituality. Their history dates back to the arrival of the Spanish to Puno, when the bulls began to be part of the traditional festivals of the area.

Toritos de Pucará in an array of colours and designs are featured in the exhibition, along with detailed insights on the making of this traditional totem, its origins and heritage. Carlos Quizpez Asin, Ricardo Grasso, José Sabogal, are some of the painters among the many whose art is on display. The exhibits also feature colourful, traditional costumes of the era.

Situated north-west of the shimmering blue Lake Titicaca, Pucará in Puno served as the birthplace of Torito de Pucará, or the Pucará bulls. Myth has it that during the time of Spanish conquest, the Europeans brought with themselves the oxens for the first time, representing the strength of many farmers combined. In Quechua, “turu” means mud, so a “turu-bull” born from the cow-waca (a sacred place) became an ideal object of worship, preventing the disappearance of one of the Andean pantheon gods, the Amaru.

The Pucará Bull’s features a distinctive hump, huge eyes with a long tongue sticking out, golden horns, snail-shaped spirals, intricate designs that vary with respective regions and colours that each connote a different meaning.

Initially, the ‘Toritos de Pucará’ were white and walnut, which, for tourist and commercial purposes, took on other carnival hues. For example, black symbolises the ego and psychic defects, also protection against envy, the blue, water and abundance, green, economic prosperity, orange, fun and merriment, and red, fertility and love of home.

Crafting of these bulls was a heritage passed down from families, while by the 1940s, the Pucará bulls were represented in several paintings of the time. To this day, only a few people in Puno are fully devoted to crafting these pieces.

This exhibit, which honours the skills and creativity of Peruvian artists, displays the growth of this iconic symbol through traditional depictions and modern interpretations.