Ynocencio Ccahuana

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I was born in the Pisac Valley, one of the most important archaeological parks in Cuzco's sacred valley of the Inca. The ancient cities were laid out on stylized animal figures and the walkways take the shape of the Puna tinamou bird.

My path in life has been rough, especially when I was very young. When I was eight years old, I had to work to help my family. There were times when food was scarce and we barely had enough money for the bus. Back then, poverty was worse than now but we managed to get head with courage and perseverance. Most important, we keep our family together with love and a hope for a better tomorrow. We worked day and night for hours as farmers and, for many years, this was my main activity to help my family.

"I had well-defined goals and never lowered my guard. I worked very hard for my humble achievements. Art has always attracted me with its mysticism. I've spent hours and hours reading about the history of my beautiful Peru. Growing up in the Inca sacred valley was a definite motivation and I worked to master ceramic arts. There's nothing I enjoy more than working in clay to create beautiful sculptures and archaeological replicas of objects the ancients used in celebrations and religious rites. It's an incredible feeling! I'm so glad that God blessed me with this ability and it's exciting to show it and share it.

"I learned my craft while helping in pottery workshops. My teachers were master artisans whose Inca ancestors once lived in these valleys. They shared their traditional techniques with me. My mother helped me set up my own workshop in a small Cuzco town. I, too, put a lot of sacrifice and work into it. Today, my wife and children share my same passion for historical Peruvian ceramics.

"It took me a long time to master the art, but I knew this was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Ever since, there's been no sacrifice that wasn't worth it. I have no doubt that my passion will overcome any challenge in life."