WHAT PATHS LED YOU TO THE
VISUAL ARTS IN LIMA?
I was born in Peru, but my
ancestors are from China. They
emigrated to South America
sometime in the early 1900s.
Most of my young life I lived in
the US. But, fascinated by the two
strongest lines in my heritage,
I came back to Lima to ‘learn
Peruvian’. It included a season
living in the forests between
Loreto and Iquitos. No indoor
plumbing, I bathed in the river
— but I loved it.YOU RECENTLY SHOWED AN
ARTWORK, LAZOS ANCESTRALES
‘ANCESTRAL TIES’ AT MAC LIMA.
CAN YOU SHARE THE THOUGHT
BEHIND IT?
My piece was part of a
collaborative exhibition
among Peruvian-Chinese
artists. All the works addressed
movement between China and
Peru, then back to China — a
journey I’ve personally made.
My artwork’s red network is
composed of knots — an
element of importance in
China as well as Peru, related
to the Inca quipu [ancient
stringed recording device].
It also ties into my interest in
textiles, a major medium in
both cultures.WHAT’S IT LIKE TO LIVE IN LIMA
WITH CHINESE HERITAGE?
After a hundred years here,
the community is strong and
established, maybe even
privileged. The city’s racial mix
is one of its best parts. I like
Lima. But I’m also going back to
the jungle.
instagram.com/christi.zQ&A with visual
artist Christi
Zorrilla116 nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel
LIMA