Museo de la Mola, Indigenous textile museum in Panama City, Panama
The Museo de la Mola displays around two hundred colorful fabrics made by the Guna community using a method called mola appliqué. In this technique, artists sew layers of cloth together and then cut away shapes to reveal bright patterns underneath.
The museum was created to protect and share the traditional art form of the Guna people. The collection grew through donations and acquisitions over many years from people who recognized the importance of preserving these textiles.
The textiles on display show how the Guna people see their world through patterns depicting animals, plants, and daily scenes. These designs reveal their values and way of life, turning the pieces into windows into their culture.
The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from ten in the morning until half past four, with extended hours on weekends. Plan to spend about an hour and a half walking through the displays at a comfortable pace.
Each mola is made by hand and can take several months to complete a single piece. This means every work is the result of patient, careful labor that becomes visible when you look closely at the details.
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