SHUAR TSANTSA MOTIF ART

The Shuar of Ecuador are infamous for the tsantsa (shrunken head) ritual, which also involved an art: decorating the prepared head by sewing the lips, adding beads, and painting it with designs to immobilize its spirit. In modern times, only replica tsantsas are made for tourism, often carved from wood or molded from leather and adorned with traditional patterns. This controversial yet captivating practice is an inclusive Amazonian heritage art reflecting the Shuar’s warrior past and spiritual beliefs about the soul’s power.