Antonio Paucar, an artist and beekeeper from the Peruvian Andes, has won the prestigious Artes Mundi prize in Wales, receiving £40,000. He plans to use the money to build a cultural centre in the Peruvian mountains.
Paucar's winning works include a spiral made from black and white alpaca wool, titled La Energía Espiral del Ayni, and a video of him writing a poem in his own blood about the environmental crisis facing his region. The poem's message highlights the melting of Andean glaciers due to climate change.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony in Cardiff, Paucar said: 'I didn't expect it. The journey of an artist is very difficult. For me this kind of recognition is very important for my region, my country, my culture.' He splits his time between art, preserving his Quechua culture, and beekeeping.
The Artes Mundi prize, based in Wales, aims to showcase talented but under-recognised artists globally. The work of six finalists is displayed across five Welsh galleries until 1 March 2026. Nigel Prince, director of Artes Mundi, noted that parallels between Celtic and Andean cultures emerged, fostering dialogue.
