2 Nov 2021

In the material history of indigenous peoples, globular pottery with traced and bichromate forms is associated with the Diaguita culture. However, archaeological findings at sites in Lake Calafquén and Angol show that this type of decoration was also used by cultures settled in the southern zone.  This Tuesday in Temuco, in an effort to shine a light on this pre-Hispanic pottery while resuming its calendar of cultural activities, Espacio Fibra Local inaugurated the Exhibition of Traditional Mapuche Pottery.

The exhibition, which will be on display until December 21st, aims not only to highlight the work of the women of the Agrupación Piutril Santa Ema de Collipulli, but also to make known - through replicas - the pieces found at the archaeological sites of Cerro Pitrén on Lake Calafquén and El Vergel, in Angol. 

At the opening ceremony, Enzo Cortesi, from the Araucanía Region’s Office of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, highlighted the initiative: "We congratulate Espacio Fibra Local for opening their doors and promoting and showcasing traditional Mapuche pottery. It’s very important to highlight the value of pottery and all traditional Mapuche craftsmanship in all its territories. It allows us to connect with history and sustain it over time, transmitting knowledge and making these activities sustainable, thus providing new opportunities for those who produce them," he said.

Ignacio Lira, assistant manager of Corporate Affairs at CMPC Zona Sur, also emphasized the importance of this first exhibition.  "We are very proud to have an exhibition that is open to the public and whose focus is to showcase the art of Mapuche pottery and its wonderful designs applied to utilitarian pieces.  The idea is that a large number of people can visit us and appreciate and learn about the history of this pottery," he said.

A total of 32 pieces, pottery replicas of Pitrén and El Vergel, as well as contemporary pieces make up this Espacio Fibral Local exhibition, located at Arturo Prat 427 in Temuco. The exhibition is open from Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 7 PM and on Saturdays, 10 AM to 2 PM, with all sanitary protocols. 

 

Women of Piutril Treasure Pottery Techniques 

For the last ten years, the "Alfarería Piutril" group of women have been operating in their workshop located along Route R-23 in Huapitrío, Collipulli. This space has allowed them to grow and improve as they promote the art of traditional Mapuche pottery. Highlights include their metawes (jugs with traditional designs of both humans and animals) and also, now, their pieces of the Pitrén and El Vergel cultures. 

Lucía Maldonado, president of the Piutril Santa Ema pottery group, said she was proud of this exhibition, as it was a challenge for them. Additionally, she said that she was grateful they are given spaces like these to be able to exhibit their work. "The truth is I was thrilled to see all the girls working and to now see them here, in a beautiful place. It’s exciting and gratifying to see that our work has a space. We’re very grateful to have somewhere to exhibit. The truth is there are many beautiful things to see in the territory, but there are very few spaces where you can exhibit your crafts or the work you do. This is very valuable.”

Thanks to CMPC's support, the Piutril potters, in addition to having a place in Espacio Fibra Local to sell their goods, have continued learning and refining their clay work technique. This is how they came to train with the ceramist Yessica Huenteman, a designer who graduated from the Catholic University of Temuco, with studies at the Academy of Fine Arts and a Diploma in Bioecological Architecture and Restoration of Cultural Heritage in Palermo, Italy.  

During the inauguration of the exhibition, Yessica Huenteman gave a talk in which she spoke about these pottery techniques, which allowed them to revive part of the Mapuche history and art: "It’s a type of pottery that, unfortunately, isn’t very well-known in the region, but this group has decided to take up these techniques and try to generate these archaeological reproductions".