Ecuador

Artist: Juan Esteban López Cando

Born: 21. May 1979 in Quito/Ecuador

Studied:

1997 - 2001 Studied at the "Universidad San Francisco de Quito"

(Comunicacion Organizacional)

1998 - 2001 Autodidactic Studies in painting in Quito

Exhibitions:

2001: in Quito (Fundacion Guayasamin)

Interpretation

The national colours of Ecuador are yellow, blue and red, running from top to bottom on the bear.

There is a sun on the front. It is a symbol of the hierarchy of the pre-Columbian religious class, especially in the "Valdivia-culture", which, 5000 years ago, was the first to settle in what is now called America.

On the back corn is depicted in combination with two asymmetrically aligned birds. The whole motif is framed with leaves and twigs from native trees.

Sun and corn are the two elements that best describe the original story of Ecuador.

On the middle part of the bear - on his shorts - there is a subtle ocean with sky blue waves. This represents the coast of Ecuador. The bottom part (in red) shows the characteristic sandals and honours the native people of the country.

The face of the bear is decorated with a type of "funeral mask", onto which the sun shines.

The bear represents the old, traditional Ecuador: a culture without social classes, a culture of harmony and communication, in which mourning and poverty used to be ailments that were easily defeated.

Juan Esteban Lopez Cando tries to create a symbol for the new Ecuador here in Berlin by tracing back the roots of his society. The bear stands for solidarity, harmony, and tolerance in Ecuador and in Germany, and for the good ties both countries maintain between one another.

Juan Esteban López Cando

Sponsor: Honorargeneralkonsul der Rep. Ecuador, Bernd-Artin Wessels