EL ALTO, Bolivia (AP) — In a unique twist on the traditional Day of the Dead celebrations, one artist in Bolivia has taken to carving the faces of deceased loved ones on plaster to decorate a special bread known as “tantawawa.” This artist, William Luna, was inspired by the loss of his mother and began sculpting her face onto the bread for the first anniversary of her passing in 2017. Now, Luna receives requests from families who wish to honor their departed family members in this distinct way.

Traditionally, Bolivians share the sweet bread “tantawawa” on November 2 as a way to connect the living with the dead. While the bread is typically adorned with generic plastered faces, Luna’s idea of carving out features that resemble the loved ones being remembered adds a personal touch to the tradition.

Each mask is meticulously crafted by Luna, starting with a photo of the deceased individual. He shapes clay to capture the person’s likeness, creates a plastic mold, fills it with plaster, and then paints the mask. The entire process takes about a week to complete.

Milton Eyzaguirre, an anthropologist, explains that the origin of “tantawawa” is not exact, but it is a pre-Hispanic tradition. The bread was historically made with quinoa flour, but now wheat is commonly used. The tradition holds that souls return hungry and thirsty, hence the food offerings.

Luna’s goal with this unique art form is to give families a way to see their deceased loved ones again, even if only in this symbolic manner.

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