Barniz de Pasto
Decorative art Mopa Mopa refers to an ancient technique used to make art from the resin of the Mopa Mopa tree that grows wild in the Amazon region between Caquetá and Putumayo in Colombia and Sucumbíos in Ecuador. The resin of this tree is extremely unusual in that it can be heated, stretched and then cut into designs that can adhere to many different materials. Wood is the most popular material for applying the Mopa Mopa resin. This technique was declared by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) “Intangible cultural heritage of humanity”, in December of 2020.
The resin is harvested by the inhabitants of the regions where Mopa Mopa grows and sold in the city of Pasto. Once in the workshop of the master varnisher, it is cleaned, macerated and heated in water. After boiling the smallest leaves and buds, which have the highest concentration of the resin, natural and manufactured color is added. The resin is then stretched by hand into thin sheets of a film like material. The film is applied to the surfaces of wooden objects to protect, waterproof and decorate them.
The artisans who produce the decorative art mopa mopa, through years of practice and refining their craft, have developed very different styles of decoration. Here you can select craft piece or pieces that you like for decorating your home or office. Each piece that you acquire in this store is identified not only by its physical characteristics, but also by the artist who created it and is one of a kind.
