Fundación Proa presents for the first time in Argentina a selection of ceramics, lithic objects, metals, textiles, and paintings—some never before exhibited—that offer a new perspective on one of the most fascinating civilizations of pre-Hispanic America. The Incas. Beyond an Empire invites visitors to travel back in time to unravel myths and highlight centuries of Andean culture.

Who were the Incas, and how did they manage to consolidate an empire that extended even into Argentine territory? This is the central question behind the exhibition that Fundación Proa is presenting from September 28 through January 2025.

Originally produced by the MALI—Museum of Art of Lima, Peru—The Incas. Beyond an Empire challenges the narratives that dominate the collective imagination about one of the most remarkable civilizations of the pre-Hispanic world. Through an interdisciplinary approach encompassing archaeology, history, linguistics, art, and design, the exhibition invites visitors to explore the origins of the Tahuantinsuyo or Inca Empire, its expansion across the American continent, the complexity of its sociopolitical organization, the integration of its descendants into the new order, and the enduring legacy of more than four centuries of Andean culture.

Curated by distinguished specialists Cecilia Pardo, Ricardo Kusunoki, and Julio Rucabado, Proa’s edition for its Buenos Aires presentation brings together 138 pieces from public and private collections in Peru. These include ceramics, textiles, lithic objects, and paintings, some never before seen in Argentina. The selection features notable examples of Inca clothing; everyday objects such as queros, whose symbolic value is key to understanding the dynamics of their political strategy; carved figures that were part of offerings and religious rituals; astonishing ceramic works; and among these treasures, the famous quipus, a unique and highly precise accounting system composed of threads and knots used to record what was important to the empire's economy.

Through contemporary audiovisual technology, the exhibition also features testimonies of Inca presence at various archaeological sites found in the provinces of Jujuy, Salta, and Catamarca. Visitors will be able to appreciate the settings where encounters and dialogues with local communities took place, and the undeniable impact of a multicultural legacy that still endures in many expressions of northwestern Argentina.

Through this initiative, Fundación Proa reaffirms its commitment to promoting the indigenous peoples of the American continent, having previously presented exhibitions on the Olmec civilization, the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the aboriginal peoples of the Gran Chaco, the Pampas and their textiles, Mapuche silverwork, and the sacred paths of Argentina’s native inhabitants.

This exceptional exhibition has been made possible thanks to the collaboration of public and private institutions from Peru and Argentina, and the invaluable contributions of Argentine researchers and academics, who helped complete the information about archaeological sites in our country.

As always, special thanks to our sponsors Tenaris, Ternium, and Tecpetrol for their continued support.