Universes of Memory. An Approach to the Retablos of Edilberto Jiménez on Political Violence

This book seeks to bring readers closer to the memory universes that Edilberto Jiménez, with singular mastery and sensitivity, has managed to shape in each of his retablos over many years of artistic craft. These are universes of meaning that unfold before our eyes through scenes and characters carefully crafted by the artist, "planted" in each box or retablo according to the tradition of Ayacuchan religious imagery. In the hands of Edilberto Jiménez, the act of placing or "planting" the images that bring each retablo to life is not limited to the finely molded and painted figures created using pastes and dyes resulting from an arduous process of obtaining materials and inputs. The scenes that populate our artist's retablos result from accompanying these figures — people, animals, plants, and others — with varied expressive resources such as drawing, painting, testimonial recording, recording of plants and animals, writing of other texts such as dedications and reflections, transcription of songs, among others. Edilberto Jiménez has managed to root different means of expression and communication in the old art of the retablo, thus transgressing — in the sense of going beyond its own limits — the traditional "form" of the Ayacuchan retablo. Despite its innovative character, his art is fully rooted in a long family and socio-cultural tradition, becoming an extraordinary example of the continuity and vitality of the art of making retablos in Ayacucho.