When researching about decorative art I learned that its main difference from fine arts is that this type of art is more meaningful and is usually something you can use or wear. As soon as I read the definition for “decorative art” an image of the Wayuu culture popped up to my head. The Wayuu or “Los Guajiros” are an indigenous community spread throughout the north frontier of Colombia and Venezuela. Their culture is rich in spiritual, ethical, and moral artifacts. The Wayuus are a really close community where all of the +1.000.000 members are considered family. After many years of discrimination towards the indigenous people they’ve been marginalized, but as a community they stand together and each member makes more than clear that they are from the Wayuu community by wearing their colorful and extravagant clothes and accessories.
Their cultural garments are the type of decorative art I am most interest in. The different colorful patterns used throughout purses, headwear, and clothing the Wayuu women wear are symbols of power and pride. For my project I want to adopt the colors and patterns of these garments to stand up against Venezuelan and Colombian governments racism against this community.
