Mamani is an architect and engineer. A descendant of the Aymara, an Indigenous Andean people, he began his career working alongside his father in construction in La Paz, Bolivia. His artistic and architectural projects are rooted in the neo-Andean style—also known as “cholet”—which is associated with the economic rise of the Aymara bourgeoisie in major Bolivian urban centers such as El Alto, where the majority of Mamani’s work is concentrated. By exploring combinations of vibrant colors, geometric forms, and ornamentation, this architecture gives material form to a globalized context of economic and cultural struggles, critically weaving together worldviews, modern architecture, Latin American baroque, and fantastical elements drawn from anime and science fiction.
Commissioned by the 14th Mercosul Biennial, the artist brings his aesthetic to the façade of the Fundação Ecarta building, an institution recognized for its importance within the city’s cultural scene. The intervention stands out amid the gray tones of João Pessoa Avenue, sparking a sensory awakening aligned with the festive spirit of the Cidade Baixa neighborhood.
Taís Cardoso
Freddy Mamani (Aymara/Bolivia, 1971) is a builder, civil engineer, and architect. His work has become known as the New Andean Architecture. Mamani is recognized for his vibrant and colorful works, especially in El Alto, a city near La Paz, Bolivia, where he built more than one hundred buildings that have become a source of national pride. These are vibrant buildings with unconventional shapes that combine a variety of aesthetics: modern Western architecture, elements of Latin American and Chinese baroque, Andean and folkloric influences, and even touches of futurism, anime, and science fiction. His works have been exhibited at the Cartier Foundation in Paris, MoMA, and the Sydney Biennale. He lives in El Alto, Bolivia.
