With the Kauyumari Collection, Vincent Mock shifts his focus from marine conservation to another urgent form of preservation: cultural survival. This series is rooted in spirituality, craftsmanship, and the fragile relationship between indigenous wisdom and the modern world.

The name Kauyumari comes from Huichol (Wixárika) cosmology. Kauyumari is the sacred deer spirit guide who leads the Marakame (Huichol shamans) through visionary journeys and deeper understanding of the world. In their rituals, the peyote cactus, often described as a divine messenger, plays a central role in opening these states of awareness. Within this spiritual landscape, the deer becomes both protector and symbol, connecting people, land, and meaning.

The Huichol have lived for thousands of years in the remote mountains of Mexico in close connection with nature. Today, their sacred territories are increasingly threatened by large mining interests, putting not only land at risk, but also language, tradition, and identity. Vincent Mock encountered this reality firsthand during his travels through indigenous Mexico, where he was invited into the tribe’s worldview and artistic traditions.

Out of this experience, the Kauyumari project was born: a collaboration between Vincent Mock and Huichol bead artists, blending ancient symbolism with contemporary art. Naturally shed antlers from red deer become the canvas. Bead by bead, intricate patterns are built in glass, using traditional methods and sacred motifs inspired by peyote visions, nature, and the spiritual journey itself. The deer motif, often appearing as male and female pairs, returns repeatedly as a symbol of unity and balance.

The result is a series of artworks that are visually striking, deeply symbolic, and emotionally charged. At its core, the Kauyumari Collection is a call for awareness: a reminder that cultural extinction is a real and ongoing threat, and that ancient knowledge still carries essential lessons for the world we live in today.