Hendy Kavaju Resa is an academic art installation project completed in Asunción in November 2020. "Hendy kavaju resa" literally means in Guarani (the native language paraguayans still speak) "the eyes of the horse are on fire," figuratively it means "the situation is very wrong." The art installation accentuates the alarming situation of waterways in Paraguay, wildfires in the area during that time of the year, draught, and the pandemic.
Throughout the years, many stories claim the origin of the phrase. One of the stories of the phrase "hendy kavaju resa" dates to the Chaco War, The War of the Thrist. During the war, horses suffered from dehydration in the arid climate of the paraguayan Chaco. The paraguayan Soldier recognizes this and sees his suffering reflected in the "fired" eyes of the horse. The installation occurs amidst the pandemic and an environmental crisis with drought and fires, the phrase expresses the collective sentiment of the paraguayan society. Nature is suffering, but are we suffering with nature?
The sculpture calls us to reflect upon the value the paraguayan society gives to water, fundamental life resource, and the natural resources of our country. The war of the thirst will not end if contamination continues to waste up to the last drop of water.
