FERNANDO ALLEN REVISITS PARAGUAYAN ROCK ENGRAVINGS HERITAGE AT ALTAMIRA

The National Museum and Research Centre of Altamira hosts La piedra y la luz, an exhibition by Fernando Allen (Asunción, Paraguay, 1957) that brings together his investigative and documentary approach with contemporary artistic creation. The exhibition is centred on Paraguayan rock art and on the idea that stones preserve traces of the past, yet have lost the capacity to explain their own meaning.

The hypotheses surrounding this prehistoric visual language, alongside the representation of key archaeological sites in Paraguay and Indigenous communities from the Amambay region, open up reflections on the connections between past and present. Early inhabitants of the area created and consolidated a collective message over centuries. The act of carving and striking the rock not only reveals an expressive intention and significant cultural value, but also continues to provoke curiosity and questions from a contemporary perspective.

Through the contemplation of photographs depicting prehistoric engravings, viewers access a visual language that facilitates both interpretation and appreciation. The exhibition unfolds through multiple techniques, from large-format photography to visual productions and precise reproductions of rock art, within a context that resonates strongly with the institution hosting one of the most important heritage collections in this field.

The exhibition also embraces collaboration between artists, conservators, and technicians from Paraguay and Spain, expanding its scope beyond technical presentation to an immersive experience. The integration of diverse disciplines and approaches strengthens the curatorial narrative and fosters a productive dialogue between cultural diversity and heritage preservation.

Fernando Allen: La piedra y la luz. Rock Art of Paraguay can be visited until 18 October 2026 at the National Museum and Research Centre of Altamira, Santillana del Mar, Spain.