Art in the Form of the Nazca Lines
What desert pictures say about our creative nature
On a trip to Peru, I learned about the famous Nazca Lines in the Atacama Desert. These ancient works of art are an astounding example of the creative nature of people that can be found in even the most extreme environments.
*These are all original photos I took on my trip!
Into the Desert
As we waited to board the plane, we were warned that for anyone who had sensitive stomachs, this would be the time to take some Dramamine. I, not having a particularly sensitive stomach opted not to take any, but in hindsight, it might have been helpful. A dozen of us all filed out of the small airport to load up onto the plane. Inside was cramped, and we were all packed in tight. The plane took off down the tarmac and launched quickly into the sky, and with that, our tour began.
The Nazca Lines
I was in a group of students who were abroad for a semester in Peru where we would take our normal classes while also learning Spanish and travelling the country to learn more about the world around us. We had been there for several weeks now, and we had already learned so much about the incredible native civilizations that had thrived there for centuries and still had a distinct mark on the country. One of these civilizations was the Nazca. In the early 20th century, their art was rediscovered in the form of the giant geoglyphs that covered the desert - with over 700 unique designs found now. We got the chance to go to the Paracas and Nazca region to see them from a small plane.
The pilot warned us as we took off that we were in for a wild ride, and they were not joking! In the first few minutes in the air, they tipped us almost completely on our side to get a good view of the first Nazca lines design before turning around and doing the same for the other side of the plane. From there we continued the process over and over to see a couple dozen of the patterns. Several people felt sick from the spinning, tilting, and disorienting speed we flew at, but it was so worth it!
Incredible Designs
As we flew over the giant pictures, our pilot pointed out specific designs like the spider, the condor, and the hummingbird. All of them were beautiful figures etched into the desert and well-preserved because of the dry climate.
We were enamored with the impressive feats this ancient civilization accomplished by making these geoglyphs, but why did they do it? This is the topic of much debate and speculation even today. The running theories are that they were religious in nature, that they were part of some sort of ritual (religious or otherwise), or that they were maybe functional ways to direct what little water they got. Whatever the reason was for their existence, there was no denying how impressive they were. In such an extreme environment, it was amazing to see human creativity thrive.
We learned that these works of art were created by removing the rocks and dirt to give way to the trenches in the earth, and we marveled at how clear they were, even now. These beautiful pictures were incredible feats of ingenuity. It was so cool seeing the different designs and debating what we thought the purpose was or if somehow they were the result of ~extraterrestrials~. I give credit to the Nazca people, personally, but it is interesting pondering some of the odd images, like the enigmatic Astronaut.
As we left, our program director prompted us to think and reflect on the trip and what these patterns say about what it means to be human…
Natural Creators
I pondered this for some time, and this is what I settled on. Being human means being a creator. There are a lot of ways this expresses itself, but it almost always does in one form or another. Whether it’s through writing, painting, decorating a home, or even just crafting the perfect fantasy football team, we all have a desire to create and form something of our own. That is wonderful, beautiful art! As I saw the giant pictures from the little plane window, I saw the result of a whole people group’s innate desire to create. Whether it was for a specific purpose or just for the sake of creation’s sake, it was a profound demonstration that is preserved and admired by people hundreds of years later. What’s even more compelling is that the same desire they had is in each of us!
Whether we see it or not, we are all creators, and that means we all in some way or another create art. I’ve mentioned this before in my “Art in Everything” post, but I truly believe there is art both in the simple and complex ways we express ourselves every day, and I am privileged to be able to write about and discuss it with so many awesome people every week! I hope today the Nazca lines remind you of the creative instinct you have inside you and give you a way to see the things you do as true art!
I would love to hear how you create in your everyday life!
Participants in Creation
Something important to this conversation for me is that I see our creative ability as an extension of the one who created us. You may or may not be religious, but as I ponder the nature of art and the way we find ways to express ourselves as humans, I often see the marks of the Creator in what we do and how we share it with others. I truly believe when we create we are participating in a larger pattern of creation that is set out by God and is a gift that brings us together and gives us the ability to build and grow community through intimate expression. I have so enjoyed seeing this play out on this platform and am thankful for those who are here encouraging each other every day to create and grow together. Thank you for what you do here - I really do see the Creator in what you do.
Wow - what an incredible experience!
That must have been something to behold! I also wonder about this strange art across the globe.