Original artwork description:

With the 'Dancing Ladies' series -name inspired by the Dancing Lady orchid- I show the diverse regions of Peru with depictions of native orchids and regional dances. This series has been part of the Orchid Festival 2025 Exhibition at Kew Gardens, London.

“Valicha and Waqanki” Acrylic on canvas, 130 x 100 cm

Valicha is a very popular ‘huayno’ song from the town of Cusco in Peru. Written in Quechua in 1945 Valicha tells a love story. The clothing is typical of the region, made by the artisans of the area. They use their own natural dyes

for the wool to make the fabrics and embroidery.

Waqanki (Masdevallia veitchiana) Is an orchid found in the wild in Peru, within the vicinity of Machu Picchu. It is rumoured to have been cultivated by the Incas centuries

ago and is referred to as Waqanki in Quechua a term translating to “you will cry”. The name comes from a Quechuan tale involving an Incan princess whose forbidden love for a common soldier led to his demise due to her father’s disapproval. The Waqanki orchid is said to bloom wherever the tears of the grieving princess fall.

Materials used:

Acrylic

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