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Igidio Daza

"I'm Igidio Daza Quispe, born 1 September, 1950 in Cuzco Pisac. I grew up in the world of traditional arts and crafts since both my parents are artists. I've always liked it because art allows me to express all that my ancestors lived through. I fuse their techniques with modern ones to create original and contemporary pieces.

"My artistic formation is my family's legacy: my grandfather taught my dad, he taught me, and now I'm teaching my own children. By the time I was 18, I was working on my own, designing and creating my own collections.

"My art is a way of ensuring that our Peruvian roots are never lost. Even though my designs are contemporary, I always strive to incorporate an ethnic, Inca or colonial element. That way I feel I'm not loosing my cultural heritage.

"I am motivated by a desire to ensure that I am able to transmit to our children the teachings I inherited from my father and grandfather. I hope they cultivate them and become better artists than I am.

"I have been able to exhibit my collections in Peru as well as on the international circuit. One of the best memories I have is of the time I was invited to judge a jewelry competition at the German Institute in Arequipa. I met there a young woman I had once taught and I was very proud to share this experience with her. I felt like the knowledge and experience I have acquired and tried to teach had been well-received and put to good use, like she had done.

"The biggest challenge I have faced was when I was setting up on my own and finding a way to have my own tools. What I didn't have, I made up because I didn't want to disappoint my customers. It is thanks to their support that I now have my own fully-functioning workshop. I have come a long way but I'll never forget the beginning.

"I work with hand-crafting techniques that were originally developed by pre-Hispanic cultures. Their wisdom guides me in the creation of each piece, which I finish by hand. Every piece I make is therefore original, unique and wonderful, crafted with a piece of my heart. I want the world to know the beautiful things that abound in our culture. Thank you, with much love!"