Journal

This painting Mystery of the Moche was painted as part of the Ancient collection.

In 2006 when working on this collection. I found an article in the National Geographic about a Moche tomb that was uncovered in Peru. The mummy inside was buried with golden jewelry and all the items indicating someone of great power. A leader or perhaps a great warrior, It was so fascinating. But the most interesting part was that this amazing, powerful figure was not a man as everyone first suspected, but rather, it turned out this great powerful figure, was a woman! Quite unexpected by the archaeologists whose assumptions guessed otherwise.

I loved this story and was inspired to paint this piece. HIStory often highlights the men of power, with women often being in the background or heroic because in their adversity they stood up for their rights and paved a way for our equality. 

Now we find this mummified woman whose status seems so revered and the question is raised, was this an ancient woman also battling a stereotype, or does this woman come from a time when the women were equal, or holding the power?

Time is long and along the way things change back and forth. I guess this is yet another mystery  chapter from the forgotten pages of HERstory. This painting is my ode to her. This time Her story will be remembered!