Luz y Piedra
2018
Fibras y Plásticos
In partnership with Pietro Estrada
The interaction of two materials that are opposite, makes evident the difference of the fabrication, composition, decomposition, and use, of both. The hibiscus color, the texture of the hemp, the irregularity of the dyed, are processes, materials and techniques that generate and evolve artisan knowledge that is irreproducible.
The counterpart, the plastic cord, represents an everyday more dependent world. Acquiring a standard object, that is -perfect-, and disposable, and that is created to make us more comfortable and ‘‘simple’’, and that, at it’s essence, it unlinks us from the process of creating. It conditions us to need them more and consume them.
Fabrication
This installation was fabricated in a week, as the statement of a workshop given to high school students applying to the Savannah College of Art and Design -SCAD- at Piegatto.
During the fabrication process, the materials selected for the project were threaded guatemalan hemp, hibiscus flower for the dyeing of the hemp, and green nylon cord.
The natural dyeing was made during 3 consecutive days, 2km of hemp thread , it was made by boiling the hibiscus and extracting its ink with groups of thread, since the total length of the hemp thread used was 2km. The three dimensionality of the installation was made through digital fabrication to obtain correct the correct lengths, All the threads and cords are suspended with metal hooks and alternate between position and material.
Workshop
The workshop with the students and the relationship with the installation based in their introduction to natural dyeing and the process of acquiring natural tint. During the workshop the process of the extraction of the dye was explained, specifically the hibiscus extraction process. For this each student had to dye their own 3 meters long hemp threads, so they could have their own dyed material. Also, a demonstration of other tints and other natural pigment extraction processes where made, specifically for turmeric, paprika, coal, and spinach, mixing them with water or egg yolk to make natural tempera.
Finally, the objective of the workshop and installation was achieved, to incentivize the tangible process of creating with your own hands, in students that are looking forward to apply to creative universities of art and design.
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