Paraguay brings its crafts to Berlin: panel discussion at the Ibero-American Institute

The Embassy of the Republic of Paraguay in Germany, in cooperation with the Paraguayan Institute of Handicrafts (IPA) and the Ibero-American Institute of Berlin, organised the panel discussion "Paraguayan Handicrafts: Cultural Techniques and Expressions of Identity", held on Tuesday, 5 May at the Simón Bolívar Hall of the Ibero-American Institute.

The event addressed the cultural and historical value of Paraguayan handicrafts, with special emphasis on the expressions of the Aché people, collective memory and national identity. The activity featured the participation of two exceptional figures: Andrea Vázquez, President of the IPA, and Simón Pychangui, Aché artist and craftsman.

Andrea Vázquez presented the IPA's main lines of work in safeguarding, promoting and enhancing the value of Paraguayan handicrafts, highlighting their contribution to the cultural, social and economic development of the country's artisan communities. For his part, Simón Pychangui displayed some of his works and explained the traditional techniques used to create them, while also sharing fundamental aspects of the Aché worldview: his community's deep connection with nature, respect for ancestors, and the importance of preserving and passing down knowledge inherited from generation to generation.

Both presentations sparked an active exchange with the audience, who responded with notable interest.

The panel discussion was held as part of the official visit of an IPA delegation to Germany from 1 to 9 May, which also included meetings with fair-trade representatives, visits to cultural venues, and the opening of the exhibition The Soul of Objects — Applied Arts from Latin America at the GRASSI Museum in Leipzig.