Chafil Cheucarama M. is a Wounaan artist and illustrator from Darién Province, Panama.
Early life.
As a child Cheucarama watched his father carved intricate zoomorphic sculptures. He began carving tagua seeds, known as "vegetable ivory", as well. The linguist Ron Binder noticed Cheucarama's artistic skills in the village of Aruza in the early 1970s. The teenager carved representational toys from balsa wood. Binder invited Cheucarama to move to Alcalde Díaz, where the young man was able to take art classes. Later he earned a degree in graphic design.
Art career.
The historian Reina Torres de Araúz hired Cheucarama to illustrate several of his books. He was selected as "Panama's best illustrator." Representing the Americas, he won first place in an OAS Children's Book Fair in Italy in 1994. Besides drawing with pen and ink, Cheucarama also paints in acrylics. He is regarded as one of the most prominent artists in the Wounaan community.
In 1998, Cheucarama was part of the show, "Tributo a la Patria" (Tribute to the Homeland). In 2010, he exhibited at the Galería Manuel E. Amador in the University of Panama, as part of the group exhibit, "Expo Docente."
Personal.
The artist's son, Lanky Cheucarama is a notable tagua seed carver and a zookeeper at the Summit Zoo for the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project. Chafil Cheucarama's cousin, Selerino Cheucarama is a respected sculptor working in cocobolo wood and tagua seeds.
References.
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