One of the most important artists representing Paraguay is Carlos Federico Reyes, better known as Mita’i Churi. The name Mita’i Churi in Guarani means ‘’Naughty boy‘’, the Paraguayans named him this way, because of his history and lifestyle.
Mita’i Churi was born in Asuncion on October 15, 1909, in a very poor family and only received an education until 2nd grade of elementary school. Despite the hardships in his life, his curiosity and mischievous nature in everything fuelled his success as an artist.
As a child, he grew up helping his uncle as a carpenter. It is said that as a young man, he helped to install the window in the Municipal Ignacio theatre, located in the centre of Asunción. One day, while working there, Mita’i Churi saw the police band on the other side of the building playing music. His curiosity did not stop him from simply enjoying the music, but from dreaming of being part of that band. Therefore, he didn’t take that long to approach the band – but was turned down because he couldn’t play a single instrument.
But, the young man did not give up. At the back of the Police station, he noticed some old, dismantled furniture, to which he proposed that, in exchange for his help in repairing it, he would be allowed to join the band. Like this, he began his career as a musician. Here Mita’i Churi learned to sing and play the guitar and the clarinet.
Later, Mita’i Churi was sent to the Chaco War as a member of the Military Band. After the war, in 1938, he moved to Buenos Aires (Argentina) to join the band ‘’Trio Guaireño’’ led by Gumersindo Ayala Aquino – the famous Paraguayan musician, who later wrote the hit song ‘’Mita’i Churi’’.
As a musician, Mita’i Churi lived for 30 years outside Paraguay. He traveled throughout Latin America and then headed to North America. There he learned to paint by drawing the neighborhood where he grew up. The traditional life of the Paraguayan people is reflected in his paintings.
Thus, his career as a painter started at a late age. His paintings have a characteristic of Naif painting – a way of painting like a child, free of conventions, which remains uncontaminated, close to its origins of creative innocence. His drawings recall his childhood memories and his career as a musician.
His work is exhibited in the Clay Museum in Asuncion (Museo del Barro – Address: Avda. Aviadores del Chaco c/Molas López), where visitors can see the traditional lifestyle of the Paraguayan people at the time.
The Uruguayan painter Juan Gaja, affirms that: ‘’His plastic world, uncontaminated, pure, innocent, is full of creativity, metaphysical creativity, surrealistic creativity, expressed in the most charming primitivism ‘’.
In 1993, Mita’i Churi receives the Radio Curupaty Award as Plastic Artist of the Year. In April 1994, his brilliance was further honored by the US Embassy.
This artist, whose soul sang through both music and painting, bid farewell to the world in 2002, leaving an indelible impression on Asunción.
The indelible mark Mita’i Churi left on the world of art continues to inspire and captivate throughout generations. From his humble as a curious ‘Mita’i Churi’ (Naughty boy) in Asuncion to his adventure as a musician and painter around the world, his spirit is still alive in Paraguayan people’s hearts.
Such an interesting person!
Wow! never could’ve dreamed a life like this