Suni Sonqo Vizcarra Wood, is a Quechua artist from the Andean mountains of Taray, Cusco, Peru. Immersed in his pre-Columbian traditions, Suni’s multidisciplinary practice serves as a channel to speak on the importance of Indigenous ancestral knowledge for cultivating a path towards a sustainable and balanced future for all.
Suni studied sculpture at the Universidad Nacional de Arte Diego Quispe Tito del Cusco, Peru, received his BFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, NM, and recently
received his MFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). Among his different practices he is mostly known as a filmmaker, musician, and primarily a sculptor.
He participates in cultural exchanges, panels, and gives artist talks. Suni is an active member of his community Ñawpa Ñan, and an international network of Indigenous Nations dedicated to cultivating ancestral roots through a decolonizing path which inspires his artistic expressions.
About Suni Sonqo Art
Suni has the following to say about Suni Sonqo Art: “Transformation, regeneration, and healing are interconnected concepts in my work, focusing on environmental and social justice. My interdisciplinary art encompasses music, film, performative objects, digital art, costume design, and primarily large sculpture.
I bridge contemporary and ancient aesthetics with narrative, figurative and stylized symbolism. My inspiration flows from
my pre-Columbian Quechua ancestry and Andean cosmovision honoring Indigenous peoples and land, celebrating the beauty and spiritual depth of my culture. My work joins a generational awakening to achieve balance between living immersed in this world of modernity and nurturing our cultural roots.
By healing historical trauma and abolishing colonial powers of oppression, Indigenous peoples can emerge with dignity to build our collective destiny. Through my practice I serve my people’s movements for decolonization, self-determination, and sovereignty. Empowering our ancestral knowledge and practices within an Indigenous vision of our future in the sacred spiral of time and space, promotes balance, harmony, and sustainability for generations to come.”