Hummingbird Love Spells

A new installation showcasing Jacha's interpretation of the hummingbird love spells

There is a worrying trend in Mexico for love spells made with hummingbirds. On Sonora market in Mexico City you can find chuparoras, love charms made from dead hummingbirds. These chuparoras are used in traditional medicine shops by witch doctors to create love potions.

The witch doctor will make a love oil using the hummingbird, herbs, spices, and oil etc. If you want your crush to fall in love with you, the witch doctor will create a small jar like the one seen in this installation with a prayer, some perfume, alcohol, petals and of course the hummingbird love oil.

All hummingbirds are protected by an international treaty called the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITIES).

Dead hummingbirds cost as little as £3 but will cost anywhere from £11 to $500 to turn into a fully prepared chuparosa.

Hummingbirds are killed in their thousands for these love spells, each species is listed as vulnerable or endangered on the IUCN red list.

Jacha created this installation after reading about the barbaric trade in these beautiful little birds. You can see the installation on display in the gallery now.