CAF presents exhibition exploring tarot from Bolivian perspective

The Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) launched the online Tarot Arcanos Bolivianos exhibition. The opening event took place last Thursday, March 11, on the Facebook page and YouTube channel of CAF and BICeBé. In her opening remarks, Gladis Genua, CAF Representative in Bolivia, highlighted the importance of creating spaces for emerging artists to show their works and of displaying the cultural identities of different countries.

The exhibition was conceptualized and organized by Hermes Peredo, graphic designer and tarotist, as part of the tenth edition of BICeBé. The event was organized by the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) in collaboration with Bienal del Cartel, Diseñadores Gráficos Bolivia and Fundación Áurea.

“This exhibition is not only letters, characters and representations; it is a language of symbols that tell us about a sociocultural and psychological context. I hope that the public are open to asking questions, and that they allow the arcana to question them from within,” said Peredo, project promoter.

The classical Marseille tarot is divided into twenty-two major and fifty-six minor arcana. The twenty-two major arcana are cards with symbolic figures, while the smaller ones are numbered cards. Tarot was first used as a way of passing on philosophical knowledge, although it soon gave way to an esoteric interpretation—a method of divination and fortune telling. Today, tarot cards are anchored in psychology and mysticism, largely thanks to the contribution of Chilean philosopher, filmmaker and writer Alejandro Jodorowski.

 “It might be said that we ‘Bolivianize’ tarot to tell a story through twenty-two illustrations. Each tarot reader uses a deck with the design that best represents the way they express themselves. This is a creative proposal based on the universality of the graphic elements on the tarot cards, inspired by the rich and diverse Bolivian culture,” said Cecilia Lampo, gallery curator.

The central objective of the virtual exhibition, curated by Salvador Poma from La Paz, is to create a new identity for tarot culture, both in terms of content and visuals, using graphic elements representative of the various regions of Bolivia. This form of representation will also open doors to socialize these archetypal concepts in our society.

The Bolivian reimagining of the arcana begins with The Fool, expressing innocence, which becomes the Peladingo; The Magician, El Yatiri; Pope Joan, Doñita; The Empress (the creative impulse) La Reina del Corso; The Emperor, Carporal; The Hierophant, Chamán; The Lovers, El Kamote; The Chariot, El Carretón; Justice, La Huasca; The Hermit, El minero; Wheel of Fortune, Alasitas; Strength, la Cholita; and The Hanged Man, El Vueltero.

Death, the symbol of transformation, becomes La Revolución; Temperance (unity of faith), La Virgen De Urkupiña; The Devil, El Tío; The Tower, El Turbión; and The Star, La Bolivianita. Finally, The Moon becomes La Lunita Camba; the Sun, our Sol Inti; Judgement, El Lapo; and The World, the realization of the present: Elay!

The twenty-two participating illustrators are: Omar-Umugus, Armín Castellanos, Cristian Castillo, Diana Val, Valinski, Salvador Pomar, Bruno Rivera and Oscar Zalles, from La Paz; Dennis Rocha, Rocío Terceros and Christopher Rojas, from Cochabamba; Jiyirii Nieme, Cristiane Michel, Mequetrefee, Diana Ramírez, Alejandra Salvatierra, German Schrup, Mariano Aguilera, Hermes Peredo, Estefany  Zambrana and Gabriela Zenteno, from Santa Cruz; Valeria Arancibia, aka Valinski, from Oruro; and Merlina Annukaki, from Sucre.