Paraguay recognizes its Country Brand ambassadors at the Dubai Expo

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC) of Paraguay recognized this Tuesday the artist’s Koki Ruiz, Félix Toranzos, and Carlo Spatuzza with the certificate of “artists ambassadors of Country Brand” given their participation and representation of Paraguay at the Expo 2020 in Dubai.

The three artists, along with ceramist Julia Isídrez, will exhibit their installations and creations in the Paraguayan pavilion at the Expo, with the slogan “Water Linked Paraguay” (Paraguay connected by Water), the MIC said in a statement.

The works that Paraguay will take to Dubai also collaborate with artisans from 13 indigenous communities, with the support of the Paraguayan Institute of Crafts (IPA).

The artists recognized this Tuesday have a wide trajectory inside and outside the country.

Koki Ruiz is known in Paraguay for his “Barraca de Tañarandy”, the altar he builds every Holy Week in his native town, Tañarandy, in the country’s south.

He was also the author of the altarpiece for Pope Francis’ visit to Paraguay in 2015 and for the beatification of Paraguayan María Guggiari Echeverría, ‘Chiquitunga’, in 2018.

Toranzos began his artistic production in the 1970s and has exhibited in national art galleries and others in Buenos Aires, Peru, Spain, Brazil, Japan, and the United States.

His works can be seen at both the Museo Paraguayo de Arte Contemporáneo at the Centro de Artes Visuales and the Museo del Barro in Asunción.

Spatuzza is dedicated to the restoration of sacred art and the creation of scenery and costumes for plays and dance.

His work was recognized at the Ostend Festival (Belgium) and the Berlinale in Germany, in 2018, with the film “Las Herederas” by screenwriter and director Marcelo Martinessi.

Paraguay will participate in this Expo thanks to the cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, with an estimated amount of US$3 million, and the support of Itaipu Binacional.

The South American country wants to take advantage of the opportunity to showcase its resources and position itself as a tourist destination.