Spirit of the Andes

Spirit of the Andes by Tito Medina is a masterwork of traditional gourd engraving from the highlands of Cochas Chico, Peru. This intricately hand-carved piece features a dense landscape of Andean life — from mythological creatures and mountain ranges to musicians, harvest scenes, and native animals — all interwoven with floral borders and geometric bands. Each section tells its own story, inviting the viewer to explore layer after layer of cultural memory.
The natural gourd has been meticulously blackened and burnished to reveal golden tones beneath the surface, creating a rich visual texture. Circular in form, it feels both ancient and alive — an object that honors Indigenous knowledge, spiritual connection to nature, and generational craftsmanship.