An exhibition in Manchester helps explain why Pope Francis championed the Amazon and its people, perhaps compelled by a spirituality whose language is in the sounds of the wind and the birds.

The waves play gently on the water, and in the moonlight dolphins dance with creatures that are part-human, part-fish. Two of the dolphins provide the music; one shakes the maracas, the other strums a guitar. It’s a scene that’s dreamlike, fun – and hopeful. It suggests a gentle and fluid world we can all enjoy together: nature and humanity in harmony, making music and enhancing one another’s existence.

This is the universe as depicted by Santiago Yahuarcani – and not only by him, but by the Uitoto people, of whom he is an indigenous leader. Manchester’s Whitworth Gallery is currently the venue for his first solo show “Santiago Yahuarcani: The Beginning of Knowledge” (to 4 January). It will move to São Paulo and Mexico City – and the painting I’m describing here, Untitled (2021), is one of the works on show.

Get Instant Access

Continue Reading

Register for free to read this article in full

REGISTER

Subscribe for unlimited access

SUBSCRIBE NOW

From just £37.50 quarterly

  Print copy of The Tablet delivered directly to your door.
  Complete access to all Tablet website content including all premium content.
  Access to the weekly digital copy of The Tablet.
  Full access to The Tablet’s archive – over 180 years of back issues.

Already a subscriber? Login