21/05/2010 33' 22''

Marcahuasi is a plain to the east of the city of Lima (Peru) that extends across four square kilometres in the Andes. It is a remarkable stone formation of volcanic origin situated at more than 4,000 metres above sea level. The rocks, which are impressive not only because of their size but also because of their extraordinary forms, have prompted bizarre theories concerning their origin and given rise to evocative names.

In the mid-1950s, Daniel Ruzo, regarded by some as an eminent archaeologist and by others as a prophet and cryptographer, wrote an essay in which he declared that the stones are "sculptures" created by what he termed Masma Culture or the "Fourth Humanity" more than 10,000 years ago. In the sixties Marcahuasi became a cult centre to which hippies from across the entire continent, north and south, flocked, and which became known as "the plateau of the gods".

"Ombres del progrés" (Shadows of Progress) presents a selection of themes that played an important role in Armando Andrade Tudela's journey to Marcahuasi, where he made a film named after this strange place.

SpecialsOmbres del progrésArmando Andrade TudelaMarcahuasimusicOmbres del progrésmusic selectionDesires and necessities. MACBA Collection