Luis Pantigozo was born in 1958 in Arequipa, Peru. He studied at the Escuela de Bellas Artes in Arequipa. His work has been exhibited in more than fifty solo and group exhibitions in the US, Italy and most of South America. He is the recipient of many awards and accolades. The main focus of his work is the Andean people’s relation to the Mamapacha. There is a spiritual dimension to his depiction of the Andean man and his attempt to reconcile two seemingly opposing cultures (Western and Andean).

 

My work is grounded in the reality around me. My subjects are the Andean people, and I endeavor to portray them to you. My paintings attempt to convey their feelings and to express the emotional intensity of their experience. Each piece I create is charged with passion, which stems from my personal relationship with the subjects. They may be my teachers and mentors; the ones that most taught me about life. I only know I am a better person for having known them.

 

My main interest is the people of the Andes. These are the people that despite being invaded, conquered, and ultimately submitting to the conquistadores; never lost their identity! Herein lies the dichotomy between the Andean and Western man. The newly imposed legal and religious structures did not extinguish the Andean instincts and sensibilities, nor the connection to the Mamapacha. There is a deeply rooted, almost mystical connection to the land, which forms an integral part of the Andean soul. The Western culture mistakenly believes that it has quashed this connection through the coercive imposition of its so-called advanced systems.

 

The Andean people live in harmony with the Mamapacha. There is an enigmatic and intense communication between the land and her people. They discern her needs and demands, ponder her revelations, all with an attitude of utmost respect and acceptance. The overall philosophy is simple. There is life and death. There is a beginning and an end. My work reflects this profound simplicity. There are never more than a few subjects so as to avoid unnecessary clutter and confusion. My paintings, whether on canvas or paper, are simple, direct and spiritual in nature. My paintings, through their expressiveness, are meant to surpass the obvious and palpable.

 

Most of his subjects emanate from the farm of his brother in Arequipa, where Pantigozo was born. It is interesting to know that his wife, Zoila de los Santos, is also a painter investigating the relationship of man & water. Her treatment of the media is similar but the content is absolutely different. Pantigozo shows potential as one of the most important Latin American painters from this century and his message should be spread loud and clear.