NOVICA Artisan Percy Curi
Percy Curi
I was born in 1968 in the beautiful colonial city of Ayacucho. It is situated in the Peruvian province of Huamanga. I feel proud to have grown up in this beautiful place and am grateful for the sacrifices and values of my parents.
I work in Huamanga stone, a translucent volcanic limestone similar in appearance to alabaster. It is quarried in the Pomabamba district and I love the way it looks. For me, it's a gift from nature that I can use to create unique and special works of art.
"This was my father's craft, so it's natural that I've been attracted to it since I was a boy. I decided I wanted to become a distinguished stone carver. I first crafted small images — nativity scenes, little animals – and I sold them. In this way, I could buy my own school supplies and other things I needed for school. There were times when the situation was so critical that we couldn't make ends meet. But I'd be able to sell a few sculptures and help with some of our smaller expenses.
"I'm happy to have overcome poverty. Ever since I was a child, we went through some difficult moments — especially due to family finances. When you live in a small town, sometimes farming doesn't help support the family. So with perseverance, sacrifice and constancy, we were able to get ahead and I'm proud to be the man I am today.
"I love exploring and creating a balance between classic art and the elegance of modern minimalism. The natural colors of stone fascinate me and offer me the opportunity to achieve an incredible versatility. It's so exciting to be able to cut and carve it, give each design a final finishing and create images that people fall in love with as soon as they see them.
"Inspiration comes from everything around me. The peace and tranquility of the countryside extending endlessly to the horizon. Deep blue skies and billowing white clouds. I love the calm that exists in my town and its surroundings. For me, an awareness is essential to be able to design and create images that recall our ancestral handcrafted techniques. "