Patas Arriba

Patas Arriba is a series by Ecuadorian artist Susana Uvidia inspired by the vibrant and symbolic characters of Andean carnival traditions. Through bold colour, layered textures and abstract interpretation, Uvidia reimagines figures such as the Danzante de Yaruquí, the Bailarina, the Diablo de Lata, the Sacharuna, the Perro, the Payaso and the Diablo Huma portraying them unexpectedly as ballet dancers. This surreal collision between folk ritual and classical dance reflects on identity, cultural heritage, and the subversive power of carnival to invert social norms, question tradition, and express collective joy and resistance.