The Gift of Ayni

This painting is from the "Pachamama's Children Series - Peru This was inspired by the marketplace in P'isaq. The word "ayni" does not have an equivalent in other languages. It means "today for you, tomorrow for me," the idea being that all work is shared and that each man benefits from helping others. Ayni is a reciprocal form of labor. The Quecha live, work, drink, pray and play in a universe governed by reciprocity. These reciprocal relationships extend beyond the human being to include the earth, the rocks and springs, animals and plants and also ancestors and invisible beings. Ayni means being able to live with the world in a very special way. It means sharing the land with the animals. No one lives in isolation; human beings and nature are inseparable. The system of ayni implies interconnectedness and interdependence. In the market place, such as I have painted "ayni" involves bartering. If mankind could share its gifts and lived with this belief, there would be plenty for everyone as well as unity and peace. I experienced first hand "ayni" in my friendship with a young Quecha boy who was studying art. Knowing how poor he was and how eager he was to paint, I gave him my remaining art materials, before I left to come home. Without thinking he said to me "ayni" and reached into his portfolio and gave me a beautiful painting that he had done.