Reviving The Ancient Incan Quipu
Made with 4.5 spools of crochet yarn
Reviving The Ancient Incan Quipu
Made with 4.5 spools of crochet yarn
I embarked on a captivating journey that intertwines ancient history with modern data visualization. My fascination with the Incan quipu, an extraordinary recording device used by the Incas, sparked a passion project that sought to revive this captivating relic in a contemporary context.
The project delves into a comparison of well-being between Latin American countries and the top-leading Scandinavian nations. Utilizing data from the OECD Better Life Index, which offers a comprehensive view of well-being beyond mere economic metrics, I sought to unravel the intricate inequalities and contrasts between these distinct cultural regions.
The Incan quipu’s mesmerizing beauty and its abstract way of encoding information held me in awe. It stands as a testament to the enduring nature of historical knowledge, bridging the gap between past and present. Inspired by this ancient marvel, I embarked on a mission to merge modern questions of life with the age-old methods of recording life.
Through my visual exploration, I reveal the striking disparities in well-being between Latin American and Scandinavian countries, where the latter takes the lead in the OECD Better Life Index. My work goes beyond surface-level comparisons, delving into the intricate details of well-being and unearthing gender inequalities within and between these diverse cultural landscapes.
Join me on this extraordinary quest to revive the quipu and shed light on the complexities of well-being and societal disparities.
The revival of the quipu was my very first physical project involving knots to record data. And it was a momentous step in my creative journey. As the years passed, my love for this art form continued to flourish, eventually leading to the creation of a wall hanging tapestry – born from the same spirit of creativity that sparked my fascination with the quipu. Both woven pieces stand as a testament to the timeless allure of artful data representation and the interplay of ancient techniques with contemporary concepts.