Handwoven Inca Cross Alpaca Blend Tapestry from Peru, "Fiery Andean Cross"

"I am Jhon Cesar Caira Laura. I consider myself to be responsible, friendly and an excellent textile artist.

"My passion for textile art comes from my maternal grandparents. They taught me how to weave, which is what they did for a living. As a boy, I'd help out and work with them. I've always been attracted to colors that are born from an idea and take form in a harmonious, colorful and bright way.

"I learned to weave at a young age because all of us had to contribute to the family economy during some difficult times in Peru. I began to study engineering at the Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería but, due to financial limitations, I had drop out and spend all my time weaving.

"Eventually, I studied digital art and design so I could innovate my designs and still remain faithful to our traditional weaving techniques. Obtaining the desired results is no easy task. For most of my life, I practiced constantly.

"I learned the fundamentals from my grandfather, but it took years of practice for me to master this art. I made friends with other weavers, and we shared our techniques, and what we'd learned about design and materials in our search for innovation.

"My weaving friends and I formed a collective and sign our work as Inka to honor the legacy of the great Inca culture. Our tapestries are woven on traditional looms. Our designs and techniques are sometimes contemporary, but we're always inspired by our ancestors' culture.

"My inspiration comes from the heart, from the joy of making an idea a reality through a process that flows like a breeze of color and harmony. I use alpaca and alpaca blends on a cotton warp, and often dye my own yarns. I especially love seeing my finished creation, preserving its essence, its brightness, its colors and the way a design embodies and conveys my Andean culture."