A humble master

The Guajira Peninsula, in northwestern Venezuela, is well-known for the richness of its native culture. The scenery of the area is very charming, but the most sticking feature are its inhabitants, the natives of the Wayuu tribe that keep alive their culture trough their craft.

In the mid-70s, I visited the area and had the opportunity to know Mr. Luis Montiel, a shy local artist whose wool tapestry is still sold in auctions all over the world.

Mr. Montiel, or simply Luis as he is known, learned the trade from his grandmother and through his Mali-Mai project has transferred this knowledge to future generations. The Mali-Mai project housed talented weavers that, under Luis’ guidance, created beautifully shaped tapestries with colorful naïve motives.

This series portrays the humbleness of a great master, that using local materials and a sense of pride for his heritage has created an everlasting legacy for him and his community.