Selerino Cheucarama, Aruza, Darién, Panama.

Selerino Cheucarama began carving as a child, mimicking the skilled hands of his father in the village of Aruza, deep in the Darién rainforest. At just six years old, he completed his first piece, hands intact, and never stopped. What began with soft local woods and tagua nut soon became a lifelong pursuit rooted in precision, intuition, and respect for material.

Cocobolo, found never cut

Over the years, Selerino became known for his work in cocobolo, a dense, richly veined rosewood that has become synonymous with his name. His sculptures often emerge from a single found log or downed stump, never from live-cut trees. His process is as much a conversation with the wood as it is a carving technique.

Los guardienes and a global reach

Selerino's creations range from fluid animal forms to his signature los guardienes, tall stylized "guardians of the doorway," rooted in Wounaan spiritual tradition.

He is credited as one of the first to carve tagua with fine artistic detail. His work has been exhibited in New York, Havana, Cuenca, and the Canary Islands. Several sculptures are held by the Museo de la Naturaleza in Panama City.

Teaching the craft forward

Now, alongside his daughters and son, Selerino continues to carve and to teach. He is passing on his craft to a new generation of Wounaan artists, just as his father once did for him.

— Jen