Sarwa’s paintings known as «tablas», are one of the few pictorial manifestations of contemporary Peruvian indigenous culture. The colorful paintings were declared national cultural heritage by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture, representing an important pre-Columbian tradition considered to be a form of communication and a key-element in the social life of the people of Sarwa in Ayacucho.They’re usually painted over wood, but a variety of materials are used. The natural paint is extracted from soil and plants, and feathers are traditionally used instead of brushes.
Being a cultural expression, they are also in constant evolution. They currently depict not only the history of the family in a genealogical fashion, but also include elements from the regional oral tradition, myths and community history.