Yakatai in the province of Pastaza and its representations in relation to the use of the language of the line
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63688/0qfmba48Keywords:
Yakatai, line, symbolism, ancestral art, Amazon, body paintingAbstract
This study analyzes yakatai, an ancestral practice of body painting in the Ecuadorian Amazon, with emphasis on the use of line as a symbolic and aesthetic language. The objectives are: (1) to identify the patterns of straight, curved, spiral, or geometric lines in yakatai, (2) to compare these designs with other ancestral artistic manifestations within and outside the Amazonian context, and (3) to interpret the meanings attributed to lines and symbols in their cultural, spiritual, or aesthetic context. The methodology was descriptive and analytical, based on a documentary review of academic, digital, and audiovisual sources. The results show that line patterns convey cultural meanings associated with identity, rituality, and the relationship with nature. It is concluded that yakatai is an example of cultural resistance and living heritage, contributing to the dialogue between ancestral and contemporary art.
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