Sculptor Percy Raúl Zorrilla Soto

Contests
• III International Symposium of Sculpture at Escuela del Mármol de Fines, Almería, España, 1999.
• III International Symposium of Granite Sculpture, Miralflores, Perú, 2003.
• National Contest of Sculpture CADE, Luis Hoschschild Plaut Award, 2006/2007.
• Thompson International Contest of Public Sculpture, Okanaga, British Columbia, Canada, 2002.

Prizes
• 1996 1st Prize, III National Sculpture Hall, North American Cultural Institute, Lima, Peru.
• 1997 Second Prize and Silver Medal, III International Biennial of Lima, National Fine Arts School Peru.
• 2002 Prize in Public Sculpture, International Competition Okanagan Thompson International Sculpture Symposium, OTISS , British Columbia / Canada.
• 2003 Third Prize , III International Granite Sculpture Symposium, Lima / Peru.
• 2003 1st Prize, Sculpture Competition of the Ministry of Education. Sculpture Design for Youth Award. Lima, Peru.
• 2006 1st Prize, National Sculpture Competition VIII Award CADE Luis Hochschild Plaut.
• 2007 1st Prize, National Sculpture Competition IX Award CADE Luis Hochschild Plaut.
• 2008 Honorable Mention , I Contest Prize Peter & Adriana Hobart for public sculpture , Lima / Peru.
• 2013 First Prize , III Contest Prize Peter & Adriana Hobart / San Miguel , for public sculpture , Lima / Peru.
• 2013 First Prize , XV National Sculpture Competition CADE Luis Hochschild Plaut.

Technique
Stainless steel.

Message of the project
La vivencia de contemplar que en cada lugar y tiempo vivía a través del arte algo que era imagen de un orden superior que marcaba los cambios e impulsaba al futuro a los hombres. La presente obra es manifestación del interés por mostrar estas fuerzas activas, a través de formas desplegadas en el espacio, las cualidades expresivas del acero inoxidable y con las técnicas constructivas del metal. Formas geométricas que se elevan como aspiración de la materia al espíritu.

Interview to Percy Raúl Zorrilla Soto

• What’s the place that you live like?
I live in Cieneguilla, near Lima, which is known for its sunny weather the whole year. Cieniguilla grew by the Lurin River and it is very busy at weekends, because lots of people go there to enjoy a picnic.
• Can you share with us a happy memory from your childhood?
When my mother told us stories of her childhood.
• When did your love for sculptures begun?
I always loved plastic arts. Being a child, I used to draw a lot and admired works from artists like Miguel Angel, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael. I studied painting and sculpture at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, and I studied sculpture four years and painting for five years.
• What does art mean in your life?
It is the way to come closer to life mysteries. It is a meeting of forces that create new forms.
• Do you have any other profession besides sculpting?
Six years ago, my wife, friends who are teachers and I, founded a school, which is named “Miguel Ángel” and its slogan is “Educate through art for life”. I taught art classes there to primary and secondary students, and also trained other fields teachers as well.
• A model artist that you admire – fine artist, filmmaker, writer, philosopher
Rudolf Steiner.
• A world famous work of art that you admire
Michelangelo’s “Pieta”.
• A book or author you recommend
Rudolf Steiner.
• Which historical or political event do you think most affected your country’s present?
In the 80’s and 90’s internal fights struck Peruvian society. Dissociation between a centralized state and populations with serious economic and social problems, brought armed conflicts.
• Do you practice any religion?
None.

• Can you share with us a traditional recipe from your country?
“PACHAMANCA”
Pachamanca is cooked under the ground. Ingredients: diverse kind of potatoes (black, yellow, canchán, native, etc), meat (rabbit, ram, beef, chicken) beans, humita, (corn dough wrapped in corn husks), sweet potatoes, herbs, huacatay,etc,.
Cooking is done with stones previously heated in the fire; so, the fire is placed inside a “drywall” in the shape of a cone. Once the stones are hot, different kinds of leaves are put into the hole dug in the ground, covered with jute and later covered with dirt. After several hours, it’s ready to be enjoyed.
• What is the status or importance of art in your country?
What is the role of the artist in your society?
My country has a millennial tradition of diverse cultural expressions and civilizations such as Caral. Those civilizations expressed their worldview through ceramics, textiles, architecture, stone carving and social organization. I believe now that tradition meets contemporary expressions to create an identity that is in constant change.
• Have you already been to South America and Argentina?
What are your expectations for the City of Resistencia and its Biennial?
From South America I only know Colombia (my wife is Colombian).
I believe that Resistencia and its Biennial have become a cultural reference for public spaces and a meeting place for artists from all over the world. It will be an interesting and enriching experience for me to be part of this Biennial.
• What the slogan “Hommo Novus” makes you think about? Can you tell us something about the work of art you are going to make?
In each time and place, human nature has its own particularities. Through art, artists interpret and are able to see the latent forces that surround it.
“Hommo Novus” is a starting point for a reflection about mankind today, from a past of ancient knowledge and driving forces towards the future. Geometry as an element and testimony of this ancient knowledge, of this ancient cultures language (Inca, Moches, Egyptians, etc.) to create a vision in which the polarity of curved and straight lines are shown connected by three triangles, from stability to the ascendant dynamic.