El Retablo

The Retablo is a fascinating form of traditional folk art from the Andes — a small structure or devotional box, often crafted from wood, within which figures, people, animals and scenes from everyday, religious and communal life are brought to life. Each retablo encapsulates an entire world: religious celebrations, processions, agricultural activities, weddings, rituals and everyday moments coexist within a confined space. Far beyond a decorative object, it is a vessel for preserving and transmitting collective memory and cultural heritage. J. Salinas explores this concept not to replicate the retablo, but to capture its essence — how stories become silhouettes, how memory becomes texture, how craftsmanship evolves into a contemporary language.