Manuel Chavajay

The work of Manuel Chavajay (1982, San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala), a Tz’utujil Maya artist, bears strong ties to the artist's indigenous origins. Primarily inhabiting the Lake Atitlán region in the highlands of Guatemala, the Tz’tujil have their own unique language, culture, and traditions that distinguish them from within the broader Mayan cultural spectrum. Making Tz’utujil language and land a frequent reference in his work, the practice of Manuel Chavajay explores, through the construction of small narratives, themes connected to the complex history of Guatemala, its indigenous heritage, struggle for independence, and more recent efforts towards stability and development. Land in this context is not merely seen as a resource but as a core aspect of indigenous identity, tracing historical connections and cultural practices and pointing at the multifaceted relationship between indigenous cultures and nature, which encompass complex spiritual, cultural, environmental, and socio-economic dimensions. Working across a wide range of media, including sculpture, painting, or video, Chavajay’s works address the need to preserve and respect the undisputable connection between man and land not only for the well-being of indigenous communities but also for the broader goal of global environmental conservation and universal cultural diversity.