QHALI ÑAN
THE PATH TO HEALTH
Inspired by the ancestral wisdom of the Andes, this sculpture represents the path that every person travels towards health, hope and the renewal of life.
Its name, Qhali Ñan – “Path to Health» in Quechua symbolizes the time and effort that every human being undertakes to recover the balance of their body, strengthen their spirit and find serenity in their heart once again.
The work represents the structure of the Antonio Lorena Hospital through tiered forms that evoke Incan architecture. Each level represents a step in the healing process: the courage to face illness, the perseverance in difficult moments and the confidence to keep moving forward, even when the path seems long.
At the top stands the Intihuatana, a sacred symbol of our ancestors, linked to time, to the movement of the sun and to the harmony between the human being, nature and the universe. Its presence reminds us that healing is not only recovering the body, but also finding our way back to our time, our inner strength and our connection with life.
Surrounding the sculpture, a rope carved from the same stone embraces the entire composition and joins at a central knot. This element symbolizes the bonds that sustain us in the most difficult moments: the love of family, the care of health workers, the company of friends and the solidarity of the community. Like the threads of a single rope, we are all united in the act of caring, accompanying and healing — and most importantly, loving.
Carved in stone, a material that symbolizes permanence, strength, memory and security, this work pays homage to the Andean cultural heritage and to the extraordinary human capacity to rise up in the face of adversity.
May Qhali Ñan inspire every visitor to remember that no night is eternal, that every pain can find relief and that each step, however small it may seem, brings the human being closer to health, hope, life and love; because as long as love exists, there will always be a reason to keep going.
