Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Themes
  • Videos
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Themes
Videos
App & Extension
  • Canada
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. Canada
  3. 2021
  4. January 24
  5. Handicrafts of the Guna people of the Guna Yala archipelago, Panama
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Handicrafts of the Guna people of the Guna Yala archipelago, Panama

January 24, 2021

Handicrafts of the Guna people of the Guna Yala archipelago, Panama

© Lars Schneider/Tandem Stills + Motio

These patterns tell a story

Is it possible for an article of clothing to express the essence of an entire people? Well, not usually, but for the indigenous Guna people of Panama, the colourful hand-woven textiles seen here may be an exception. Molas, which means ‘clothing’ in the Guna language, are traditionally displayed on both the front and back of women's blouses. Even today, many Guna women prefer to wear them over modern attire. The textiles often feature abstract geometric patterns, as well as images from nature such as turtles, flowers, birds, and fish. Guna women of yesteryear were known to paint their bodies with those same geometric patterns and designs, and by the late 1800s they had begun weaving them onto cloth instead of painting themselves. Today, the production of molas is still generally done by women, who use an intricate process called reverse appliqué, where as many as seven layers of fabric are sewn together to form a panel, which is then hand-cut to create the vibrant designs.

But the importance of molas to the Guna people runs deeper than mere fashion. Forced from Colombia by Spanish colonists in the 16th century, the Guna endured an arduous migration before settling in Guna Yala, a semi-autonomous archipelago of coral islands in Panama. In the early 20th century, they again found themselves at odds with local authorities after the Panamanian government objected to their wearing of molas and other traditional garb as part of an attempt to ‘Westernize’ them. This resulted in an uprising in which the Guna finally won the political independence they enjoy today. To many Guna, the mola is not just a craft, but a symbol of their autonomy.

drawing painting illustration text child art design abstract art pattern sketch colorfulness graphic fabric

Related Images

Museum at Prairiefire, Overland Park, KansasMuseum at Prairiefire, Overland Park, Kansas
Tree in blue agave field in the tequila producing region near Atotonilco, Jalisco, MexicoTree in blue agave field in the tequila producing region near Atotonilco, Jalisco, Mexico
Laburnum (golden chain) trees and purple alliums in bloom at VanDusen Botanical Garden, VancouverLaburnum (golden chain) trees and purple alliums in bloom at VanDusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver
Sheep graze along a road, IcelandSheep graze along a road, Iceland
Arvada Skatepark, Arvada, ColoradoArvada Skatepark, Arvada, Colorado
Lauterbrunnen Valley in the Swiss AlpsLauterbrunnen Valley in the Swiss Alps
Ponte Vecchio bridge near Bobbio, ItalyPonte Vecchio bridge near Bobbio, Italy
Old Town section of Bern, SwitzerlandOld Town section of Bern, Switzerland

Today Bing

Lower Manhattan in New York City

Lower Manhattan in New York City

Jan 24, 2022
Sunlit ridges against volcanic scree on Eyjafjallajökull, a volcano in Iceland

Sunlit ridges against volcanic scree on Eyjafjallajökull, a volcano in Iceland

Jan 24, 2020
Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival, which begins today

Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival, which begins today

Jan 24, 2019
Fontainhas village on Santo Antão Island, the Republic of Cabo Verde

Fontainhas village on Santo Antão Island, the Republic of Cabo Verde

Jan 24, 2018
Fireflies illuminate a forest in Shikoku, Japan

Fireflies illuminate a forest in Shikoku, Japan

Jan 24, 2017
Bubble-tip sea anemone in the Great Barrier Reef

Bubble-tip sea anemone in the Great Barrier Reef

Jan 24, 2016

Related Tags

painting outdoor sky cloud landscape nature mountain grass lush plant tree colorful text surrounded valley canyon art child art drawing painted
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
Download 1920x1080
  • © 2022 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.