The Qashamarquida: The Mythology of Cajamarca and Its Symbolic Deconstruction Through Artistic Representation from a Descolonial Perspective

Abstract

The artistic project focuses on the mythology-willakuy of Cajamarca as a means to explore and deconstruct the consequences of colonialism. Drawing on theories from authors such as Aníbal Quijano, Rita Segato, and Silvia Rivera Cusicanqui, the research analyzes how coloniality impacted social, cultural, and gender structures, leading to the perception of non-Western mythologies as “primitive” thought, stripped of their complexity.. Through art, the project seeks to reconstruct and reinterpret local myths-willakuy confronting them with hegemonic Western narratives and highlighting their potential to create new ways of thinking. The creative process includes the symbolic analysis of Cajamarcan myths-willakuy, the reconstruction of images and narratives from a descolonial perspective, and the creation of artistic works that challenge power structures based on racism and gender violence. These works integrate pictorial, poetic and installation elements that promote critical reflection and active viewer participation. Methodologically, the project combines theoretical research, artistic analysis, and the pictorial materialization of myths-willakuythrough a qualitative strategy that seeks to highlight the relevance of non-Western mythologies as agents of cultural resistance.