patricia leon leon

Ecuador Connections – Import / Export

In Ecuador I found a fascinating and new world, a raw and chaotic country full of contradictions. It can be primitive with a basic infrastructure, as I immediately noticed with the roads, they could be poor if not terrible in some places, but the cities are modern in every way. Although it is a small country it is striking how much diversity there is in landscape, climate, fauna and flora. It has poverty but is rich in cultural identity and creativity. I have a great respect for the natural instinctive way people continue to pass on and use traditional crafts and creative activities that are time honored this is form me a reflection of the strong identity and connection to their past, and the land from which the materials for these crafts spring. This is a thing to be proud of unlike some of the crafts which are dying out in the west. The contradiction here is in the development of the living environment which is going through fast moving and dramatic changes, it is seen in the housing which is being built by individuals with thought only for what they consider better, stronger and more modern and little consideration is given to the past and the traditional techniques which have survived and endured. What a wonderful place of hope and striving, an unpredictable place under pressure to evolve and adapt to opportunities presented through the wealth of oil.