Rono Metsa Ani Xeati - The Great Celebration

Updated August 22, 2026

This monumental painting titled <b>Ani Xeati - The Great Celebration</b> is a completely original acrylic on canvas by Shipibo-Konibo artist <b>Rolin Ramirez Nunta</b>, known artistically as <b>Rono Metsa</b>. Measuring more than eight feet across, the work presents an extraordinary panoramic vision of one of the most important ancestral celebrations of the Shipibo-Konibo people of the Peruvian Amazon. The composition unfolds as a vast communal gathering beside the river. Dozens of figures wearing garments decorated with intricate <b>kene</b> designs participate in ceremonies, music, dancing, food preparation, conversation, healing practices, and collective celebration. The multitude of individually painted figures gives the work an exceptional narrative richness, transforming the canvas into a visual record of community, memory, identity, and ancestral continuity. According to the artist, the <b>Ani Xeati</b>, or "Great Celebration," has been practiced since ancient times as an expression of spirituality and gratitude toward the natural world. The gathering honors the earth so that the land may remain fertile, the harvest may provide abundant food, and the surrounding forest may continue to sustain the community. The river occupies the foreground as a central source of nourishment, transportation, and spiritual connection. Canoes carry members of the community across the water, while pink Amazon river dolphins appear beside large fish. These aquatic beings evoke the presence of <b>Yapa Ronin</b>, described by the artist as a guardian of rivers and lakes who protects the waters and helps ensure abundant fishing. The upper section presents an expansive forest filled with monumental trees, birds, domestic and wild animals, cultivated areas, and distant community structures. This broad landscape establishes the intimate relationship between human life and the Amazonian environment, where rivers, forests, animals, plants, and people form part of one interconnected world. Throughout the central gathering, women and men participate in music, dancing, ceremonial exchanges, food preparation, and communal activities. Traditional instruments, vessels, decorated textiles, and patterned clothing reinforce the cultural identity of the celebration. The artist also refers to ancestral healing songs, physical competitions, the sharing of food and drink, and the participation of invited communities over several days. Within the artist's account, the Ani Xeati also recognizes celestial and spiritual forces: the sun, moon, and stars guide and protect the community, support the growth of crops, and help people orient themselves through the night. Forest beings and spiritual allies are understood as sources of knowledge, particularly in relation to medicinal plants and traditional healing. The extensive use of <b>kene</b> across clothing, architectural details, ceremonial objects, and decorative elements is especially significant. These designs constitute an e

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