Meeting Lima

As I soak in the glorious humidity of coastal Lima after 3 months in the southern desert of Peru, I am smitten on my arrival in the City of Kings, the capital of Peru, the gastronomic centre of Latin America – dusty, dirty Lima.


Not much foot traffic here, for his own indulgence.


No better place to be with a camera in hand..





Looking toward Miraflores



Jorge and Hiro



Worked up a thirst..


Ramiro Llona.
"I make large paintings on canvas with oils". Based now in Chorillos Lima, llona had studied, lived and exhibited in New York City for many years and is simplistic when he offers me a definition of his work. Llona is currently sculpting in bronze where he is of equal repute.
In an interview with Limeno journalist Jorge Riveros, Llona describes part of his process: “I always finish paintings. Continuing them would be to turn them into something else. Some you finish one way and others another. It’s like reaching the peaks of certain mountains. Surely, you’ll reach some more illuminated than others".

(c) Brenden Allen 2009

(c) Ramiro Llona UNTITLED circa 1972

(c) Brenden Allen 2009

Sheila Alvarado
When I asked Lima based graphic artist, Sheila Alvarado how she finds the weather here in Lima this time of year, being constant gloomy grey skies, she offers an unexpected answer that made more sense the more time I spent at her San Isidro apartment and studio. " I love it, the cloudy skies are like a blank piece of paper, looking up is like a fresh canvas". A prolific creator covering different media, she is well known for her self portrait styled "Limena Girl" graphics that illustrate a sex column in Peru 21 newspaper. She is currently collaborating with Lima born, American author Daniel Alarcón, illustrating a spanish language graphic novel called "City of Clowns" amongst her many other endeavors that continue to see her rising amongst Lima's artistic elite.

(c) Sheila Alvarado Limena Girl
http://www.sheilaalvarado.com/