Tomorrow is the last day of the “Introduction to Ecuador” exhibition, put on by the Ecuadorian Embassy in Japan.

The following pictures are from April 19^th, the day before the exhibition started when preparations were still underway. Ecuador is famous for its textiles, some dating back to the Incan Empire, and possibly even farther. I’ve read about fabrics made from alpaca fur, but these appear to be made from wool.

Cacao beans.

Since Ecuador has an abundance of cacao trees, it is also famous for its chocolate.

A turtle.

With ample coastal areas, the Andes Mountains, the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands, South America boasts and a wide variety of regions and ecosystems.

A Panama hat.

Panama hats originated from Ecuador, despite their name. The material they’re made from is called “tokija”.

So much nature!

The country is also rich in fruit and aquatic resources.

The representative from the Ecuadorian embassy, Mr. Carlos Guevara.

I got to try on the national costume of Ecuador!

The colors were beautiful! Tokija is extremely stylish.

Just wearing the outfit is enough to put me in a festive mood, happy and excited. I liked imagining that I could feel the dazzling sunshine of Ecuador.

You can find printed materials that provide an introduction of Ecuador at the gallery, as well as fliers with information about the specialty products to be found there. After reading about its wealth of natural resources and ancient ruins, traditional food and wonderful handicrafts, I am absolutely dying to go! I’ll see the animals of the Galapagos Islands, visit ancient Incan ruins, then go to Central America for the ancient Mayan and Aztec ruins, do whatever I have to in order to get myself to Machu Picchu…is what I’m dreaming of, anyway.

The exhibition will continue through tomorrow (April 22^nd). Things will be wrapping up a little early on Monday, though, so come by as soon as you can! Yesterday gallery restaurant Sakura Tei hosted a well-attended event celebrating Ecuadorian cuisine, which was both highly successful and unspeakably delicious.

For anyone interested in learning more about this country with no limitations to the ways it can amaze, click here!

http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/area/ecuador/data.html

(By Gallery Staff Member Kozue)

Design Festa English Blog

4 member , tongue in cheek tribute to food & our furry friends whether they be in the wild or on a plate! illustration, painting, objet and more from Natsumi Oda, Mai Imon, Sayuri Sato & Hitomi Terazaki……….exhibiting together under the name Pondashi.

Design Festa English Blog