38
Philanthropy and wisdom
A bridge of solidarity unites Argentina and Italy through the work carried out by Sumampa, a charitable association supporting the rural populations of Santiago del Estero, a province in the north-west of the country. The association was established in 2000, with the publishing of Un arte escondido - objetos del monte argentino. The book documents the life of the Santiagueñi, inhabitants of an area known as monte argentino, through the objects of their everyday lives, created in an ongoing and direct relationship with nature. “En esta pureza hemos sabido vivir y crecer. Como hijos de la naturaleza y servidos por ella” (In this purity we have learnt to live and grow. Like the children of nature and its servants): these words, spoken by an artisan of Santiago del Estero, reveal how deeply these populations, which stem from the ancient Inca civilisation, feel their bond with nature. A heritage they preserve and respectfully hand down from generation to generation. The publication of the book played a vital role in preserving and supporting this rich and endangered cultural patrimony, followed soon after by the creation of Sumampa, a non-profit organisation, and the opening of Spazio Sumampa in Milan. In the ancient Quechua language, still spoken among the Santiagueñi, “sumampa” means “pure and springing water”. It was chosen to underline the charity’s style: a return to the origins and to simplicity. Spazio Sumampa is located in the central district of Brera, Milan’s artisan heart (Via Ciovassino, 5, tel. +39.02.6575154). It exhibits the colourful works of Argentina’s tradition, made with passion by local craftsmen and women. The walls and the floors are covered with wonderful carpets in sunny hues, hand-woven by the Huarmis Sachamanta (the “scrubland women”) with locally produced wool coloured in vegetable dyes, such as cochineal. Whilst the women are mostly engaged in textile art, the men manufacture “one-off ” pieces with an essential design: large carrubo wood tables,
benches, beds, wardrobes, algarrobo saddle racks, aged leather baskets and utensils, not to mention the materas, traditional low chairs with woven or stretched-leather seats. The objects are essential and linear, all strictly original and unique, “distant from the concept of repetition in mass production.” With a skill that matches that of contemporary designers and makers, the artisans of Santiago del Estero manage to capture and extrapolate the objects contained in a knotty tree trunk, a twisted root or a bent branch. The success of this modern design concept was confirmed in 2009, when the products were presented in the sophisticated industrial architecture of Milan’s Cargo & HighTech shops. Spazio Sumampa does not only present genuine Argentine objects. Recently the range has grown to include items of Italian craftsmanship, such as the precious textiles from Macerata and delicious sweets made in Sicily. Thus promoting, as its founders intend, “the vital energies of Italy”. With the proceeds from sales and donations from private individuals, Sumampa has succeeded in buying and reclaiming the area of Quimilí Paso, where 300 people now have a home and land to cultivate. The area was first equipped with wells to collect rainwater and an aqueduct, as well as greenhouses and vegetable gardens, and a reforestation programme was launched. Then the Casa de la Comunidad was built, together with a primary school and a weaving school; the library was renovated, a new health and hygiene information programme was developed and a cooperative for women textile weavers was created, the products of which are sold at the Spazio Sumampa in Buenos Aires. To raise awareness towards the current situation of indigenous and multiracial peoples of the Americas, Spazio Sumampa in Milan is also offering the opportunity to take part in a series of events that explain certain aspects of Latin American cultural life, and illustrate new projects (www.sumampa.com).
INCA ROOTS AND MODERN DESIGN Above, from left, animal-shaped sculptures in algarrobo wood; a rueda de vida in alpaca, used as a lucky charm for a new home; a woman from Quimili Paso at the loom. Opposite, palosanto wooden trays, bone and alpaca cutlery and silver bracelets.
036-039_SUMAMPA9ENG.indd 38
12/03/14 09:59