Pitumarca is located about three hours from the city of Cusco, more than 3,500 meters above sea level. The landscape with which Saúl Ccarita grew has changed dramatically: the apus (the divinities of the mountains) no longer have snow on their peaks. Even so, the Cusco artisan He feels a pride that he also inherited from his father.
While growing, Saul noticed that They were discriminated to use their typical clothes and speaking Quechua. «The taytas of the heights, so they called us disparagingly,» said the artisan. It was from these experiences that Ccarita understood that Pitumarca He had to understand the value of his identity. And he did it through textile art.
Since then, together with his father he has delivered to the Natural dyes recovery work and return to the original processes of the waist loom fabric. They practice the fabric of Pallayhe Ligüihe PatapallayLa Palma de Ramos, the fabric of ticllas and the circular tissue. Likewise, the Inca technique of the Tocapus, which was already being lost and that only Timothy Ccarita knew (and that is why only he could comply with the Inti Raymi), has returned to be reborn in the community.
They have also organized associations «to have the opportunity to get ahead as a group,» Saul explained. Today, the Valle del Ausangate artisan association has 45 members, but also works hand in hand with other twenty -one associations distributed in the valley. «We train them in dyes, in fiber restoration, all leaders help,» the artisan explained. «It's a heart commitment so that our people go ahead. ”
«Saúl Ccarita is recognized for being an eximio weaver, knowledgeable about the techniques and iconography present in the textiles of Pitumarca,» said Soledad Mujica, director of Intangible heritage of the Ministry of Culture of Peru. «But I want to emphasize that Saul is also a passionate student of the Quechua culture,» added the cultural manager. Saúl Ccarita took three years of investigation to prepare the technical file to ensure that Pitumarca's fabric will declare cultural heritage of the nationtitle he got in 2017.
“The most important thing to understand the fabric in Peru is that, in my opinion, It is not an art but a means of communication «Saul ended. “It is a way to express, to write down, to register their customs. It always had an extra value in the daily life of our people. We want to keep that value. ”