Condor meets Northwest Coast

Acrylic, Copper on Birch panel 22”x28”

©CarmenRedunante2022

The culture of Northwest Coast peoples, which are ,similar in traditional practices, reveals a deeply rooted and beautiful system that organizes and teaches their future generations to follow under their mother’s crest. This is known as a Matrilineal connection. In my exploration to understand this meaning behind a crest design, this artistic project creates an opportunity to introduce the Chilean national animal of my mother’s home; the Condor. The condor is a significant and sacred animal for the Indigenous people of south america . In the spiritual teachings shared by many Indigenous people, there is a prophecy that foretells the union of an eagle flying alongside the condor, which is symbolic for the Indigenous people of south america and north america rising together to bring a change to help heal and protect mother earth. 

My piece, In this prophetic symbol of my cultural background, I surrounded the Condor with the Copihue which is also the national flower of Chile that is dedicated to the Mapuche Nation symbolizing the bloodshed and resilience of the Indigenous people who fought against colonization in Chile. Framing this crest with copper not only creates an energetic connection to both of my ancestral lineages but also performs as a conductor to help amplify the message within my work. As the condor spreads its wings and soars above, within the wings is a pattern hidden in the feathers, it reveals a pair of eyes that appear closed. However, within my piece, this same pair of eyes are now opened to symbolize the awakening of the prophecy that change that will soon come.

*continents italicized to emphasize the colonial act to remove the original names of these places*

©CarmenRedunante2022