Novica:Yurivilca Family

"During my career I've received many awards and prizes, including the designation of Grand Master, but nothing satisfies me more than the love that I receive from my fellow countrymen...."

In his traditional weaving town, the name "Yurivilca" shines brightly, yet it is the name don César Yurivilca that truly resonates - the result of the man's inimitable success in the art of textiles. Don César is currently somewhat of an institution in a town that has made its name on tapestry weaving. This prestige is garnered not only through the success of his tapestries but also because Don César is a pioneer in the field, choosing to take a different path from the traditional techniques and inventing the tapiz relleno. All of the local weavers now follow Don Cesar's technique because they are able to achieve a visual impact with their weavings similar to that which a painter would be able to create with his canvas.

"I've been involved in the field of weaving since I was a child. The influence comes from my family and from my town as well. My parents and my grandparents were weavers and almost everyone in town is involved in this activity. All that I've learned has come from practice, for I've never received any kind of schooling in the art of weaving. I am always seeking to develop new forms and styles for my art. This field gives me great spiritual satisfaction, especially when I am able to teach the new generation of weavers. I hope that I can leave behind an informal schooling tradition whereby people from my hometown can always depend on weaving to make a living. In fact, we've formed a type of community with my children (César, Julio, Grimalda, and Wilfredo) whereby they teach the other young children the skills that I've taught them.

Don César is a man of modest words and rich dreams. With his provincial simplicity and incredible dignity, he has exhibited his works in Australia and Colombia. He has declined many invitations to exhibit his work because he believes that his place is in Peru, and that the Peruvian who leaves should soon return, for one cannot live much time with their feet in another country.