Kené

The term kené, or kene, refers to the traditional designs painted by women and men on ceramics, textiles, wooden surfaces, and bodies of the Shipibo-Conibo people from the central Amazon of Peru.

[1] Kené designs are composed of geometric patterns that express the Shipibo worldview and spirituality, which tends to seek beauty and balance of the self in relation to the natural environment.

[6] When the Shipibo visionary healer (meraya or onanya) establishes a deep connection with the jakon nete, this link is called kano.

[9][10] There are plants called piripiri whose extracts are applied to the eyes and navel of the young Shipibo that gives knowledge of kené designs for healing.

[13] These designs are painted on the body (face), wooden utensils (oars, pipes, maces), textiles (skirts, shirts ) and ceramics.

Kewé embroidery on textile performed by a Shipibo woman
Kené in ceramic vessel