Man with Guitar

This is one of the simplest yet most powerful of Parra's known tapestries. It is believed to have been sold for the first time in Paris in 1964. Very little is known about Parra's emotional and artistic motivations when weaving tapestries, so there is a lot of room for interpretation. This piece may pay secret tribute to her father, a schoolteacher who stimulated his children’s love for music. Whatever this figure represents, the love for the guitar becomes the central symbol of this piece, as the notes that emanate from the instrument become birds.
—Félix Angel, Curator, IDB Cultural Center