168
PERU
Patricia Obegozo
Nuevo Sol – A New Sun 1998
mixed media on canvas 78 x 118 cm

Patricia Obegozo was born in Peru in 1971 and lives in the San Miguel district of Lima. The subject of her painting plays on the word ‘sol’, which is Peruvian for the sun, but is also the name of the national currency. ‘Nuevo Sol’, the title of the picture, is the new name which has been given to the currency, which has had to be devalued several times in recent years. The painting shows an imaginary revised banknote which is full of new symbolism to displace the traditional national emblems. Centrally placed is an image of a university courtyard with a fountain – a symbol of peace, order, cleanliness, beauty, and education. Money is shown pouring into the courtyard to indicate education as a major priority for investment and spending. The design also includes the outline of a llama and a traditional mask.