Arts and Crafts of Colombia

The exhibits were drawn from the collection of Artesanías de Colombia, a government institution responsible for the promotion and development of the country's artisanal and craft sector. The Colombian government encourages artisans to use the intellectual property system as a means of protecting their creative works and obtaining just remuneration for their efforts, while also preserving the country's national patrimony for future generations.

Opening the exhibition, Ambassador Clemencia Forero Ucros, Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations in Geneva, described Colombian crafts as the ultimate representation of the country’s culture, idiosyncrasy and folklore. She stressed the importance for a country like Colombia of "working hand-in-hand with WIPO for the protection of our cultural expressions."

The exhibition featured jewelry, silverware, basketry, tapestry, ceramics, wood masks and finely woven objects, produced in different regions and by a cross section of indigenous groups. Space permits us here to touch on only three of these traditional art forms.

Heritage of the Zenú

The Vueltiao hat, one of the best known and popular symbols of Colombia, is the Colombian craft par excellence. The hats are the work of the Zenú ethnic group, who use traditional colors, designs and weaving techniques that date back over a thousand years. The Zenú use a complex traditional method to transform the natural caña flecha palm tree fiber into black and white fibers that they then weave into patterns representing the totemic elements of the Zenú culture. These carry traditional names, such as Heart of the Fan, Crocodile Flower, etc. The Zenú use their traditional techniques today to create a range of products for the home.

Weaving of the Waleker

The women of the Wayúu ethnic group, from the Guajira Peninsula on the Colombia-Venezuela border, claim that they learned their weaving skills from Waleker - the spider. The secrets of their traditional weaving are part of the initiation rites of adolescent girls to womanhood. The intricate hand-stitched kanás (weaving designs) are an ancient Wayúu art form and represent the elements found in the...