Felipe Coaquira's exhibition in Lima explores the deep connections between migration, memory, and identity. In his exhibition “Migrante. El resueno de la memoria,” the Peruvian artist combines textile techniques with personal experiences and elements of Andean culture. The exhibition runs from September 4 to November 8, 2026, at Casa O'Higgins in the historic center of Lima.
It's not just about fabrics, embroidery, and artisanal traditions. Coaquira delves into an experience that millions of people know: What remains of a place when you leave it? What memories do you take with you? And how does one's identity change through a life lived between different countries and cultures?
Felipe Coaquira between Peru and Chile
Felipe Coaquira was born in Arequipa in 1977. He spent a significant part of his life outside Peru, living in Santiago de Chile for almost 15 years. This period left a clear mark on his artistic development. In Chile, Coaquira came into close contact with Mapuche textile art. Textiles thus became more than just a material for artistic work for him.
They can preserve stories, transport memories, and make cultural belonging visible. Especially for people who have left their homeland, such symbols gain particular significance. After returning to Peru, Coaquira continued his engagement with traditional textile techniques. In the Colca Valley, he explored regional machine embroidery techniques, among others.
Thus, his work brings together diverse cultural experiences. Influences from Chile combine with traditions from Peru and Coaquira's own history as a migrant.
“Migrante. El resueno de la memoria”
The exhibition in Lima is titled “Migrante. El resueno de la memoria.” It features 24 textile works, in which Coaquira uses embroidery and fabric collages, among other techniques. The focus is on migration, uprooting, memory, and the search for belonging.
However, these themes are not presented as a chronological life story. Coaquira works with images, symbols, and fantastical figures. Some of these originate from the cultural and mythological world of the Andes. This creates a connection between personal memory and collective culture.
In these works, migration does not appear exclusively as a geographical movement from one country to another. It changes relationships, habits, and one's own relationship to one's origin. Those who live outside their homeland for a long time often carry multiple cultural spaces within them simultaneously. It is precisely these in-between spaces that play an important role in Coaquira's art.
Textiles as bearers of memories
Textile art in Peru has a history spanning thousands of years. Long before the Inca era, various cultures used fabrics not only as clothing or utilitarian objects. Colors, patterns, and weaving techniques could express origin, social status, or religious beliefs. Many textile traditions have been preserved for generations and are passed down to this day.
Felipe Coaquira takes up this significance without simply imitating historical textiles. His works combine traditional techniques with contemporary issues. Fabric thus becomes a surface where personal and cultural memories come together.
Particularly interesting is the connection between the artist's experiences in Chile and the techniques from the Peruvian Colca Valley. Thus, his work transcends boundaries itself. Different textile traditions meet within a single artwork.
Migration as part of Peruvian history
The topic of migration has a special social significance in Peru. For decades, people moved from the Andean regions to the large coastal cities. Lima grew considerably as a result, and at the same time, its cultural character changed.
In addition, many Peruvians left their country and built new lives in Chile, Spain, the United States, Italy, or other countries. These movements gave rise to new forms of cultural identity. Traditions do not necessarily disappear. They change, adapt, or even gain stronger meaning in foreign lands.
Coaquira's biography exemplifies part of this development. His years in Chile and his subsequent return to Peru form an important background to his current artistic work.
Andean figures meet contemporary art
The works acquire a special character through fantastical figures and references to the Andean worldview. Coaquira uses these elements not merely as decorative additions. They enable him to represent memories and experiences on a symbolic level. This creates an art form that is simultaneously personal and culturally shaped.
Visitors do not need to be experts in textile art for this. Many of the questions addressed are universally understandable: What does home mean? When does a person feel they belong to a place? What memories remain after many years? The exhibition does not provide simple answers to these questions. Instead, Coaquira translates these questions into textile images.
An exhibition you can also hear
In addition to the 24 textile works, the exhibition includes an interactive sound installation. This expands the presentation beyond the visual. Visitors can approach the theme of memory through another level of perception.
Sounds and noises have a strong connection to personal memory. A voice, music, or an everyday sound can bring back images of a place a person hasn't seen for years. This connection fits the basic idea of the exhibition. Memory consists not only of images, but is composed of many small impressions that accompany people throughout their lives.
Casa O'Higgins in the heart of historic Lima
The Casa O'Higgins in the historic center of Lima serves as the exhibition venue. The building is located on Jirón de la Unión and is one of the historic houses of the Peruvian capital. Casa O'Higgins is managed by the Instituto Riva-Agüero of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.
Due to its central location, the exhibition can be easily combined with a tour of the historic center. The Plaza Mayor and other important sights of the old town are in the vicinity. Admission to the exhibition is free.
Exhibition at a glance
Exhibition: “Migrante. El resueno de la memoria”
Artist: Felipe Coaquira
Period: September 4 to November 8, 2026
Location: Casa O'Higgins
Address: Jirón de la Unión 554, Cercado de Lima
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 20:00
Admission: free
Felipe Coaquira connects two cultural worlds
The combination of different textile traditions makes the exhibition particularly interesting. Felipe Coaquira brings together experiences from Peru and Chile. The encounter with Mapuche textile art stands alongside techniques and cultural influences from the Peruvian Andes.
His works thus also show that cultural identity does not have to be immutable. People absorb experiences, change, and yet carry memories of former places with them. Migration therefore does not necessarily mean the loss of one's own origin. It can create new cultural connections.
A current cultural tip for Lima
Anyone traveling in Lima between September and early November 2026 can visit the exhibition free of charge. Especially due to its location in the historic center, it can be easily integrated into a day in the old town.
“Migrante. El resueno de la memoria” offers a different perspective on Peru than the well-known archaeological sites and museums. This is about a contemporary Peru, whose society is shaped by movement, migration, and cultural exchange.
Felipe Coaquira makes these experiences visible with fabric, embroidery, collages, and sound. His exhibition combines traditional techniques with questions that extend far beyond Peru.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Felipe Coaquira?
Felipe Coaquira is a Peruvian artist born in Arequipa in 1977. He lived in Santiago de Chile for almost 15 years and intensely explores textile art, migration, and cultural identity.
When will the exhibition in Lima take place?
“Migrante. El resueno de la memoria” runs from September 4 to November 8, 2026.
Where is the exhibition located?
The exhibition is located at Casa O'Higgins at Jirón de la Unión 554 in the historic center of Lima.
What is the admission fee?
Admission to the exhibition is free.
What is on display at the exhibition?
On display are 24 textile works featuring embroidery and fabric collages. Additionally, an interactive sound installation is part of the exhibition.
What themes does Felipe Coaquira address?
The focus is on migration, memory, uprooting, cultural identity, and belonging. Coaquira combines personal experiences with influences from Peruvian and Mapuche textile art.
Sources
Agencia Peruana de Noticias Andina – Felipe Coaquira presenta en Lima una mirada textil sobre la migración y la identidad, September 3, 2026.
Instituto Riva-Agüero PUCP / Casa O'Higgins – “Felipe Coaquira. Migrante. El resueno de la memoria”, 2026.
Image source Hero: Lima en Escena – Felipe Coaquira, exhibition “Ángeles y demonios”, 2024.