Hidden by Inca princesses, Atahualpa's gold ransom still lies lost in the Andes…

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The Gallery at Green and Stone presents an exhibition of new works by Ecuadorian artist, Diana Mercado, Un Cuento de Los Andes (A Tale of the Andes), her fourth solo exhibition in London. The exhibition explores themes of identity, heritage, and memory. Born in Guayaquil, she left her home in Ecuador as a child and immigrated to the United States.

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A Tale of The Andes draws its inspiration from the artist’s memories of childhood stories about the Inca civilization told to her by her grandfather. This collection of works remembers and pays tribute to a time when the Inca civilization was the largest

in South America and brings to life the richness of Andean culture and the resilience of its people.

 

Mercado uses different materials and techniques to recreate the wonder and magic of the ancient civilization that fascinated Europeans in the sixteenth century. Her creative process incorporates gold leaf, glitter, gemstones, and sand blended on the canvas with oil paint to highlight the tension between the Spanish conquistadors’ greed and her deep-rooted pride in her Inca heritage. This curious and inventive approach compels the audience to immerse themselves in the narrative. Key themes of memory, heritage, and empowerment are addressed throughout the works. At the center of the exhibition is the legend of the lost gold of Atahualpa, the last Inca emperor – a ransom meant to be paid to the Spanish conquistadors but hidden away high in the Andes by loyal Inca princesses.