Luminescence: The Silver of Peru

Luminescence: the Silver of Peru traces the long history of silverwork and the fascination with the metal’s divine and luminescent qualities. It will display pre-Columbian works to those made by contemporary artists, including national treasures seldom seen outside of Peru. The exhibition is curated by MOA Director Dr. Anthony Shelton.

“One can only imagine the incredible impact that silver must have had in pre-Columbian Peru. Garbed in the precious metal, radiating and reflecting the harsh desert light, the Incas and their predecessors would have appeared as deities,” says Dr. Shelton. “Even as the region underwent sweeping changes in subsequent centuries, the cultural importance of silver remained alive. In Luminescence, we explore what the incredible, reflective properties of silver have meant to Peru over time.”