Piraq Causa, meaning “whose fault is it,” is a feature of the “Arts of Resistance” exhibition at the UBC Museum of Anthropology. This series of 5 paintings depicts the Shining Path conflicts in Peru, events which resulted in the deaths of 69,000 people, largely comprised of innocent indigenous villagers. It is the history of the villagers of Ayacucho that these paintings illustrate. The traditional style in which these works are painted, called tablas pintadas, was originally used to depict family genealogy, but is used in the context of these paintings to illustrate the collective history of the culture at that time. Their goal is to denounce the horrors committed against them, but also to rebel against the erasure of their culture by the Peruvian government. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay The original purpose of these paintings was to condemn the atrocities committed against the Ayacuchano people. As one of Peru's poorest indigenous communities, Ayacucho was easily infiltrated by Shining Path insurgents. Although the public was under the impression that the villagers supported the movement, the paintings tell a different story. Indeed, they describe the leaders of the Shining Path as onqoy, a scourge or disease for the community. This is significant because it goes against the official position of Peru, which has labeled the Ayacuchanos as terrorists in an attempt to justify the massacres. Perhaps the most gruesome scene painted depicts military helicopters gunning down everyone in sight, guerrillas and civilians alike. The government was so focused on eradicating the Shining Path that it completely ignored the innocents unable to defend themselves against the attack. As the government's complete indifference to indigenous life shows, it is clear that it did not care whether the Ayacuchan culture survived. The Ayacuchanos, on the other hand, care. Using the tabla pintadas method is a way for the artist to show that whatever happens, his culture will persevere. More than just the murder of the Ayacuchano people, the conflicts (which disproportionately affected indigenous peoples) were a form of cultural genocide. A specific example from the paintings shows the Peruvian army destroying the Ayacucho community center in order to target the Shining Path. However, the insurgents had no vested interest in the community and so the only people affected were the villagers whose cultural history had just been wiped out. After the conflicts, the remaining Ayacuchanos dispersed across Peru, leading to the loss of their customs. Through the use of traditional techniques, artists preserve part of their culture and rebel against a government that has marginalized and attacked them. As recently as 2017, the Lima museum was criticized for exhibiting these pieces, considered pro-terrorist. As Schaffer and Smith observe, life stories are “often banned in their country of origin” (16), because they generally reflect negatively on the country itself. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper from our expert now. writers.Get a Custom EssayPiraq Causa's paintings on display at the UBC Museum of Anthropology depict atrocities committed against indigenous groups during the Shining Path conflicts. They challenge the official rhetoric of the Peruvian government which presents the indigenous people as insurgents, supporters of a cause that had to be stopped. Not only these paintings..