Adela Panduro Silvano is a master ceramist from the Shipibo-Konibo community of San Rafael in the Ucayali region of the Peruvian Amazon. We have been working with her art since 2018, comprised of intricate effigy statues, sculpted bowls, and delicate figures all sculpted by hand from river clay, natural pigments and fired on open flame. During one of our visits to her community, we sat with Adela to learn more about her creative process and the origins of her art form.

The elaboration of their 'kene' design motif can be seen throughout not only their dress but their ceramic arts. Here Adela can be seen painting the 'maya kene' on her statue with clay and natural pigments before the firing stage.

According to Adela, there were many ceremonies in the past that would honor different cultural aspects.  Her ceramic effigies would be given as gifts for birthdays or special ceremonies such as the cutting of an adolescent girl's hair called 'Besteti Xeati' that would present her to society.

Adela is a single mother of two children, both of whom assist her in her ceramic work. Having learned from her mother and older sister Dora Panduro, Adela is dedicated to her art form which is the fingerprint of her cultural identity and reality as an artist today.

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Video Footage & Photography: Tui Anandi

Video edition: Melanie Dizon

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