​While I was in Peru attending the school of Bellas Artes (Fine Arts) in Cusco, both as professor and as student, I was very blessed to have worked with an amazing faculty and groups of students. 

The school’s administration, my mentors, other professors, and peers were welcoming, and ready to share their experiences and learning. In turn they were very open to me sharing of my knowledge and experiences within my domains of learning with all of them. 

I want to take this post to give an special shout out to the director of the school, LIC Carlos Hugo Aguilar Carrasco, the academic director, LIC Luis Abdon Perez Perez, the director of the faculty of art, Yohn A Lasteros Hogaldo, for their incredible support, and also giving me a chance to prove my abilities, and my mentors and wonderful professors namely - Juan Challco, Richard Peralta, Marcial Quispe Quispe, Irwin Antonio Ferandiz Castro, Ronal Mamani, and Victor Zuniga for sharing their expertise, and in mentoring me to produce higher quality works. 

My students, although I will not name names here, did a wonderful job in keeping a positive attitude through the courses, in producing some excellent and interesting work, and in also sharing of their knowledge and experiences in regard to their art and lives. 

To all of those, named and not, of whom I came into contact with at this wonderful arts institutions, once again, I Thank you!! 

Tahira Nusrat Karim
​Tauska

One massive part of Peruvian culture, especially around the regions of Arequipa, Lake Titicaca, and the Sacred Valley (where Cusco is located) is cultural dance. From a young age, and as a part of their schooling, boys and girls partake in annual cultural dances at their schools and across the city during certain times of festivity. The dances are complex and usually of a group type. The costumes are all varied and full of colour. 

One dance that is quite unusual is one in which the girls play whip the boys and stand over them. Another that is quite unusual is one in which the participants play in herding animals. 

Theatre is also a varied and large tradition in the country used not only as a form of entertainment, but as a way to tell about histories between the Incan's and the Spanish, and to pass down Incan traditions, beliefs, and ways of life. Of course, now there is also a mix of more contemporary theatre. 

In Cusco every year during the festivals of Into Raymi - the sun solstice - many theatrical pieces of reenactments of Incan beliefs and culture take place through the walled city. 

In regards to music, dance, and theatre, Peru really is a treasure trove - there is so much, and so much of it is quite different. And it is not just for those into dance or theatre, or for the elite; these things are for everyone and they happen in the small villages all the way through to the big cities. It's a beautiful thing. 

Tahira Nusrat Karim
​Tauska

In the districts of Barranco and Miraflores, Lima is really really safe. Miraflores is more of an upity district full of all the rich peoples, and high end restaurants and stores, and very cleanly kept. Barranco is just a tiny bit grittier, and full of gorgeous graffiti and street art.  

The graffiti and street art in Barranco is pretty, meaningful, and full of love and colour, and I'm wishing I'd taken more pictures of it - which often happens when the prettiness is sooo much that one is just in that moment and the idea of coming out of that moment to capture a picture all but disappears. Anyhow, if you are ever in Lima - make that trip to Barranco and check it out!! While your at it grab a coffee or ice cream and take in the wonderful performances from the local street musicians. 

Tahira Nusrat Karim
​Tauska

Due to the influence the Spanish culture and Catholic religion have had in Peru, much of the country's artwork reflects as such. There are many ornate churches and religious paintings, as well as plazas, fountains, and park sculptures. The works are often colourful or littered with Incan designs and patterns giving a dutiful nod to the more ancient culture of the country. 

Some of the most ornate, beautiful, and unique pieces of art can be found in the church - La Merced - in Cusco - in which there are housed many paintings in the style of Cusco, and in the parks of Lima - such as the Love Park - in which the artist Victor Delfin drew from the works of Spanish Architect Gaudi - and created a colourful mosaic park over looking the ocean and centred with a large sculpture of two lovers. As for plazas, I would say that some of the most beautiful are in Cusco, Arequipa, and Lima - namely the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, the Plaza de Armas in Arequipa, and the Plaza de Armas of Barranco in Lima. These plazas are not only beautiful, but laid out so well that they are always teeming with people coming to enjoy the plaza, the people, the ice cream, and just be.

Tahira Nusrat Karim
​Tauska

Pink, Star, Flowers - some of my favourite words - and all together!! 
I happened upon these beautiful flowers whilst visiting the monetary in Arequipa, Peru. Their bright baby pink colour against the royal blue wall "popped" and caught my eye. And then I just stared - lots of them clustered and in the shape of stars. Stunning!! 

Tahira Nusrat Karim
​Tauska

I was working on a mural in a hostel a while back to the theme of growth and Mother Earth and so had researched and painted Andean botanical and produce upon the wall. In my research and observations I had seen the Tumbo flowers in growth, seen passion fruit growing, and orchids, and corn, and even the potatoes, but I had never seen quinoa growing up close. I had researched quinoa growth however, and looked at many high resolution pictures, and read about its properties. Lo and behold, walking around my neighbourhood in Cusco the other day what do I spot growing in front of a neighbours house? Yes... Quinoa!! Just growing there, on the side of the road, and it makes me wonder if they, the neighbours harvest it? 

Tahira Nusrat Karim
Tauska

I had gotten to a point in the trek where I was alone from people - some in front of me on the trail, and some behind. Focussing on just my breath, on putting one foot in front of the other, and being aware of my surroundings. It's what I love about hiking - the focus is on the present - it's hard to think about too much else. A rustle from the bushes perks my ears and I become even more aware - my eyes scanning around me. And then I saw this... in the bushes, this beautiful horse, magical. It sees me too... staring one at the other we take our time - I snap a picture - the horse waits patiently, and then we continue our stare. Foot steps are heard approaching - others on the trail... the horse gives a nod and takes of into the bushes. 

Tahira Nusrat Karim
​Tauska

I was walking through Promart the other day - Peruvian version of Home Depot and came upon a bunch of trash cans. They were round, metal, lift tops, and... they featured the design of the Campbell's Soup Can - nod to Andy Warhol :) Though of course it's not blatantly Campbells - so they did cover themselves. I did really want to stack them in a pyramid or line them up on a shelf - maybe I'll do so if boredom sets in this week. 

Tahira Nusrat Karim
​Tauska

I was in Lima a while back, to pick up my brother and his girlfriend, and before travelling around Peru together we stayed in Lima for a couple of days. We were incredible blessed to stay in one of the art and food districts of Lima - Barranco. It is very beautiful there - with tree lined streets, cliffs overlooking the Pacific, and gorgeous flowers abloom. There are musicians performing in many of the plazas and a vibe that is both lively and relaxed. And the food - Pisco Sours, Ceviches, Anticuchos (a Peruvian type of barbecue - traditionally of cow's heart), and good coffee!
We very luckily stayed in the former residence of one of Peru's most famous artists - Victor Delfin. His residence has now been converted into a small boutique hotel by the artists' daughter. The hotel overlooks the ocean, has beautiful grounds, and is filled with Delfin's art - both paintings and sculptures.

The art of Victor Delfin is full of beautiful colours, whimsical imagery of animals and people, it is also full of life. It is a mix of painting and sculpture and has a joy about it. Apart from his inspiration from nature, there are nods towards the work of both Picasso and Dali. His most famous piece in Lima is "El Beso" - The Kiss - It is a monumental sculpture of a couple kissing and it sits in the Love Park of the Miraflores district of Lima overlooking the sea. 

Staying in the house was incredible as there was beautiful and colourful art around every corner. There was also a small pool that was an artwork in itself - the water pouring out of the mouth of a lion - and yes I took full advantage of swimming there amidst the art, overlooking the sea. 

Tahira Nusrat Karim
​Tauska

Some of what we are working on in the anatomy class - studies of bones in different types of animals. It's really interesting to see how the different bones connect and make up the interior of the animal, and also to view the similarities and differences across the various groups. 

Tahira Nusrat Karim
​Tauska