The Art of Play

Everything in our culture is a type of art.

A song is art for us. Dancing is art. A prayer is art. From the moment you start smoking the ritual pipe to speak with the deities, making that connection with Nhanderu—that's art.

Body painting is art. It's making a connection with Nhanderu, so it's a type of art.

Of course, there isn't a word in Guarani for "art." But everything is related to art. It's all connected to spirituality.

The Guarani people see art, spirituality, dance, and agriculture as a way of creating the beauty tat sustains and justifies the world. And all of these activities are play, a way of bringing joy into the world. If our life rotates around play instead of profit, they ask, what would it look like?