Shipibo Design Sticker — Painted Kené Pattern

This design is part of the visual language known as Kené, developed and preserved by the Shipibo-Konibo people of the Peruvian Amazon. Kené patterns are not created as decoration alone, but as expressions of an ordered understanding of reality in which sound, vision, and form are deeply connected.

Within Shipibo tradition, kené exists alongside the sacred healing songs known as Icaros. While songs and patterns are not literal translations of one another, they are understood to arise from the same cosmological framework. Healers work with sound to restore balance and coherence, while artisans — traditionally women — translate this ordered knowledge into precise geometric forms through painting and embroidery. Both are considered functional expressions of harmony rather than symbolic imagery.

Kené designs appear on textiles, ceramics, beadwork, and ceremonial objects. They follow internal rules of balance, rhythm, and continuity, passed down through generations. When worn or placed in space, these patterns are traditionally understood to support order, protection, and stability within their cultural context.

This sticker presents a faithful reproduction of a Shipibo design, offered in respect of the living tradition from which it comes.

To read the full article on Shipibo designs, Kené, and the relationship between pattern, song, and cosmology, click here.
To read a detailed article on the Shipibo-Konibo people, their history, and cultural continuity, click here.

Specifications

- High-quality 600 dpi colour print on matte polyester permanent vinyl.
- Soft velvet-like surface with low glare and enhanced depth.
- Designed to reproduce fine line work and colour transitions with high accuracy, preserving the character of the original pattern.
- Available in various sizes.

Context Note / Disclaimer

When this description refers to healing or medicinal functions, it does so within the cultural and ceremonial understanding of the Shipibo-Konibo people. This description is not intended as a medical claim, nor as a substitute for modern healthcare. These references are shared to provide insight into a living Indigenous knowledge system, not to prescribe or promote therapeutic use.

Copyright Notice

All written content in this description is protected under copyright law. Reproduction or distribution of the text, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited. The stickers represent Indigenous artwork or cultural expressions. These works are not claimed as original creations of this publication. Copyright, authorship, and cultural ownership remain with the Indigenous artists or communities from which they originate.