Reinterpretación contemporánea del tupo Saraguro: símbolo de identidad cultural femenina desde la cosmovisión andina y la joyería artística en una propuesta escultórica

Abstract

Abstract: The objective of this study was to analyze the symbolic and cosmological meanings of the three Andean worlds as reflected in the iconography, animals, and mystical representations integrated into the design of the tupo and the chakana. The research employed a qualitative approach and a descriptive-analytical design, based on a theoretical review of Andean cosmology and fieldwork conducted within the community. Data were collected through observation and iconographic documentation of the artistic piece. The main findings showed that each cosmological realm is visually encoded in the object. Andean worldview is manifested in the composition through its three fundamental realms: Hanan Pacha, the world above, is evoked through the circular forms of the sun and moon incorporated into the design; Kay Pacha, the earthly world, is represented through the circular solar structure combined with the petals of the lily flower; and Uku Pacha, the world below, is embodied in the pin shaped like a serpent. It is concluded that the tupo functions as a social and sacred organizer of the woman's body, harmoniously integrating ancestral memory, present vital force, and spiritual connection through a material synthesis of Andean three-dimensional cosmology.