In Malacatoya, one of the poorest rural areas of Nicaragua, the Foundation “Casa de los Tres Mundos” has erected a sculpture park. Oversized copies of salvaged pre-columbian findings have been molded to give back a piece of history to the people of the newly constructed village, to strengthen local identity and help preserve Nicaraguan cultural heritage.
Only two miles from Los Àngeles, there is an indigenous cemetery, “El Sitio San Pedro”. For years, the excavation pieces, earthenware vessels, jewelry, figures, weapons and other archaeologically significant findings of the Chorotega tribes (800-1200 AD) have been carelessly unearthed by the impoverished population. This often involves working children and the pieces are sold for a few dollars to traders abroad. The Sculpture park in Los Àngeles de Malacatoya presents some of these rescued objects in the form of oversized sculpture-copies, which turns dusty showcase exhibits into accessible, living past and arouses the interest and curiosity of the community.