Sustaining identity

The Commission for the Promotion of Peru PROMPERÚ announced that the Peru Pavilion installed at Expo 2020 Dubai is dazzling the world with the temporary exhibition called “The Mochicas, masters of the desert.” Here, international visitors can witness the replicas of the Lord of Sipán and the Old Lord of Sipán jewels made by artisans from the Lambayeque region, as well as having access to valuable information and a life-size representation of the Mochica culture’s elite.

The exhibition was inaugurated on Dec.15 and held until Jan.31, 2022. This joint effort is organised by PROMPERÚ and the Patronato de Sipán -a non-profit association that works on research, conservation, and promotion of the archaeological heritage of northern Peru- to promote the riches found in the tomb of the Lord of Sipán, a discovery considered one of the most significant archaeological finds of the twentieth century.

To convey the spirit of this culture and its extraordinary development, six of the mannequins created by the renowned artist Edilberto Mérida Pilares are based on physiognomic models of the descendants of the Mochica people. This work is displayed at the Peru Pavilion.

The very same heirs of the Mochica cultural identity were in charge of recreating, with fantastic fidelity, the ornaments, and objects that the royal court used in times of splendour: the artisans of Lambayeque, Armando Gil, Segundo Gonzales, and Johnny Aldana, have painstakingly crafted the most striking jewels so that historical figures of the Mochica elite can be depicted richly attired to demonstrate their rank and power.

The Peruvian pavilion is presented with the concept “Timeless Peru,” which seeks to connect the present with the future and build bridges between our country and the world. In this sense, Peru’s past is represented by the surprising Mochica civilization and its magnificent goldsmithing.

At the same time, the present is manifested in the region’s inhabitants, who, through memory and art, keep the Mochica culture alive. Presenting this glorious past at Expo 2020 Dubai, the world’s largest cultural event sustains the identity of Peruvians today and helps shape their future.

Meanwhile the artist, who holds the Guinness Record for the largest chain of bubbles in the world, will dazzle Expo visitors with their prodigious ephemeral. The bubbles will be the star of ‘The Impossible Bubble’, a show of surprising dimensions that will arrive at Expo 2020 Dubai from January 2 to 5 thanks to Bubble Factory, with David Vega, Carmen García and Juanfran Dorado, Director of the show, that will take place at the Spain Pavilion every day at 5.30 pm and 6.30 pm.

David Vega is an ephemeral artist from Spain with more than 15 years making theatre shows all over the world, holder of a GuinnesRecord for the longest chain of bubbles in the world. He will lead the audience with his assistant Blinka (Carmen García Quismondo), to figures close to the impossible with unique performances in the world, reaching sizes never seen before. Vega will tell how what, at first seems impossible, can become a reality by guiding towards the correct perspective and the correct path.

From the idea of “impossible”, he will tell the audience about little experiments, his own experiences, funny stories of great artists who went beyond what did not seem feasible. All in a very informative and humorous tone, to make it reach both the little ones and the adults who accompany them.

Peru kicked off its plans at Expo 2020 Dubai with a ground-breaking ceremony in November, led by Edgar Vasquez, the Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru, Luis Torres, the Executive President of the Commission for the Promotion of Peru for Export and Tourism, PROMPERÚ, Alvaro Silva Santisteban, Director of the Trade and Tourism of Peru in the UAE, and Deputy Commissioner General of Peru for Expo 2020, and other senior officials. The ceremony officially marked the beginning of the construction of Peru pavilion at Expo 2020.

Rising in the Mobility District will bring to life the country’s cultural diversity and ancient wisdom that still surprise the world.

“Expo 2020 Dubai is a great opportunity to showcase to the world what we are, whom we are and what we are made of. From our marvellous attractions to our award-winning gastronomy; our cultural and natural diversity to our ancestral knowledge and intangible heritage. It is a great opportunity to showcase our talent, hospitality, creativity, uniqueness, diversity, as well as the tremendous array of opportunities and vast possibilities to be fostered commercially,” said Edgar Vásquez.

Under the theme ‘Timeless, Always Peru’, the pavilion will feature a unique architectural design that evokes the path that the nation has travelled throughout its existence telling stories of 10,000 years.

“We are, and will always be, a country that transcends time. Even after many centuries, we continue to surprise the world: Inca constructions still astonish visitors through their innovative building techniques that have endured the passage of time. We have learnt from our ancestors to work as a community, looking to the future while keeping our past alive,” he added.

The pavilion will reproduce the last Inca bridge, Q’eswachaka, welcoming visitors and symbolising the connection between the past, present and future of Peru, a timeless country.

Peru’s participation at the Expo 2020 Dubai aims to attract tourism, boost exports and generate investment. Expo 2020 Dubai represents an ideal opportunity to position Peruvian products such as unalloyed zinc, grapes, quinoa, prawns tails, and pomegranate, among others, on the world market and increase their demand.

The Peruvian pavilion will have dedicated spaces for work meetings with potential investors. In addition, the tourism industry will benefit from the visit of tourists and from investments in hotel infrastructure and connectivity.

Moreover, new markets will be sought for trade, mainly in superfoods, alpaca, and coffee.

Luis Torres, the Executive President PROMPERÚ, said: “We are extremely proud to be part of the most anticipated World Expo in history. We are coordinating with our partners from the public and private sectors to guarantee a great representation of Peru at the Expo.”

“At the Expo 2020 Dubai, Peru showcased its capacity as the largest reserves of silver in the world, as well as the largest gold, lead and zinc reserves in Latin America. In addition, the Peruvian Amazon contains rich deposits of oil and natural gas, as well as forest resources. Furthermore, the coast is renowned for its maritime resources and export-oriented agribusiness,” he added.

From January to August this year, Peru’s total exports to the UAE totaled $ 610 million, an increase of 344 per cent compared to the same period of 2018, exceeding the export record obtained in 2017. In 7 years, Peru has gone from exporting $6 million to the UAE to more than $600 million.

The design for Peru pavilion was selected through a National Design Competition, which witnessed diverse participation of architects and the country’s talent. The entry from Habitare Architecture and Engineering was adjudged the best and now rise as the Peru’s pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.