These textiles are part of an ever-growing series of woven works made from tree bark and plant stem fiber. Each of these woven works has been made in intense collaboration with,-and woven by local high skilled weavers. The gravitational pulling of the moon and the currents being the conductors by which we work. These textiles are the direct translation of one song, spell, or prayer performed in the old indigenous language native to the place. Sadly most of these languages are near too extinct and often only spoken by elders.
For me, these textiles are the direct mediators between the human body and the surrounding environment. Vocal songs (tones) and light frequencies are transformed into patterns and abstract notations that become the texture of woven surfaces.
To my perception, one is not simply a translation of the other, but instead, one can be found in the other– the tree behaves the same in the forest as it does in the textile. They are like all things: both visible and invisible, they are places in which to dream, they refute language because they are made of it.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all people who have generously hosted me and have trusted me enough to let me discover a little more about their rich culture and shared with me their vision, skills, and wonder through creation.
This project was made possible with the generous support of the Mondriaan Fund and Stichting Stokroos
