Sculpting with the Sun: Phenomenology of Light in Architectural Sculpture at Chavín de Huántar, Peru.

In the ancient Peruvian highlands, architecture and sculpture were inextricably linked to the mountainous Andean landscape. The character of light in this environment and how it illuminates architectural sculpture can fundamentally alter the way we perceive these objects. The dimensionality and placement of the tenon heads and cornice stones at Chavín de Huántar offer a unique opportunity to understand the role of the natural environment within architectural programs. Through a discussion of the sun's role in casting dramatic shadows in the stones at Chavín, this article shifts our focus from object to shadow and demonstrates the powerful visual effects intended for individuals approaching the site. Utilizing the strong highland sun, sculptors leveraged the shadow-producing effects of these three-dimensional pieces to create spectacularly ornamented buildings. Although these vistas are lost today, archival photographs provide glimpses of the original perspectives. The sun generated movement of otherwise static sculptures, animating the heads mounted within the walls. Utilizing phenomenology of light, this paper positions the sculptures at Chavín within a cross-cultural dialogue on the role of natural light in the built environment. Together, the sculptures with their shadows animated the structure and focused the viewer's attention on the monument from afar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]