On the 6th of December 2024, the legacy of a master echoed through the halls of Xapiri Ground at the inaugural event for "Neo-Amazónico Pablo Amaringo," an exhibition of unpublished and early artworks of the "Neo-Amazónico" style developed by the late Pablo César Amaringo Shuña (1938-2009); a self-taught artist from Loreto, Peru who was famed for his visionary art worldwide.

We welcomed his nephew Juan Vásquez Amaringo, who Pablo raised as his son, along with Noe Macedo Olorve; an art disciple of Pablo Amaringo since the age of 10. Juan is the director of the "Usko-Ayar" Amazonian School of Painting and in charge of the Pablo Amaringo estate in Pucallpa, Peru. He shared with us many memories of a man whose way of seeing nature and the Amazon left behind a profound legacy for artists of all ages and from all walks of life.

An important part of the legacy that Amaringo had left behind was the "Usko-Ayar" Amazonian School of Painting which opened on June 15, 1988 by Pablo Amaringo with the support of Colombian anthropologist Eduardo Luna. It was Pablo's wish that he could give this kind of artistic education to low-income youth from the region of Pucallpa and the riverbank communities of the Ucayali. The school is fully operational to this day and run by Juan Vásquez Amaringo with other teachers such as Noe Macedo Olorve.

'Pablo would always say to his students to take care of nature, to not destroy it. He was a defender of nature.'

~Juan Vásquez Amaringo

Supplement to this exhibition is a full color catalog that features all the works on exhibition, accounting for the curatorial process behind its creation and the threading of all the special encounters that made this exhibition possible. This would mark Xapiri Ground's second publication to date.

'His paintings convey the immense detail and knowledge that characterize the "Usko-Ayar" school where Amaringo offered painting classes to his students. It was always his belief that through the power of the painted image, he could transmit a love for nature and its preservation, that through art we could all learn to respect and admire what nature gives us.'

~Melanie Dizon (Xapiri Ground Creative Director)

'Connecting with the right intentions mixed with many moments of synchronicity have allowed us to present this exhibition in homage to Pablo Amaringo, creator of the "Neo-Amazónico" style.'

~Jack Wheeler (Xapiri Ground founder)

We would like to thank the "Usko-Ayar" Amazonian School of Painting and its director Juan Vásquez Amaringo along with the Amaringo family for sharing the work and life of the great master that is Pablo Amaringo. We are truly grateful to Rudolf Städelin for introducing Fredy Kugler to us; a big part of how and why this exhibition took shape as it did.

The "Neo-Amazónico Pablo Amaringo" publication is sponsored by our partners at Antigua Casona Hotel with the support of the "Usko-Ayar" Amazonian School of Painting. Proceeds from this book and sales of the art go directly into supporting our social project in conjunction with the "Usko-Ayar" school, which we are hoping to realize in 2025-2026, stay tuned!

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Video Edition and Footage: Ambulante Audiovisual

Book Design and and Direction: Melanie Dizon

Editorial Coordination: Jack Wheeler, Melanie Dizon

Photography: Davis Torres

Translation: Albert Cendra, Melanie Dizon