This book compiles the works carried out by the artists Maider López, Irene Infantes and Andrian Pepe in Karrantza during the celebration of the VII Artistic Residency of Good Living, which took place from June 29 to July 9, 2023.
Maider dedicated herself to exploring the meadows of Karrantza, focusing on the grazing activity of the different animals in the area and how this left distinctive traces and marks on the surrounding vegetation. Her approach seeks to unravel the history and past events of a place through the meticulous observation of the flora. Maider catalogs the various forms of grass and analyzes how they are influenced by the type of animal that has grazed it, the climatic conditions, and the local geography. In addition, she investigates how the routes traced by animals and people can affect the growth of vegetation, highlighting the ability of certain plant species to resist the pressure exerted by footsteps and movements. To gather all this information over several afternoons, Maider held conversations with our appreciated neighbors and friends: Luis Manuel Peña, Tere Cerro, Cesar Varela and Luis Ramos. Each of them contributed their profound knowledge and experiential expertise, as well as their passionate love for nature.
The wool of the sheep, in these cohabitations, emerged as another of the protagonists, revealing a magic and meaning that surpass the mere concept of textile material. In this edition, the artists Adrián Pepe and Irene Infantes were the ones who responded to our call. Despite their different backgrounds, they share a deep affinity for art, design, interior design and decoration, and have chosen wool as their main means of creative expression.
Adrián Pepe stands out for his artistic approach that delves into the relationship between objects over time, fusing cultural, historical and design elements in his work. His main objective is to encourage reconnection with the environment and promote a conscious lifestyle, using nature itself as an integral part of his creative process. During his participation in the VII Residency in Good Living, Adrián undertook the creation of a large felt piece, making use of our “Bizi-feltro”, a device that allows the felting process to be carried out while pedaling. Subsequently, he proceeded to embroider and dye this work with ocher pigment, which was used in ancient times by shepherds of the Mediterranean Levant to mark sheep. This action not only reflects Adrián’s deep interest in history and culture, but also establishes a bridge between the past and the present, giving a rich and profound meaning to his work. In addition, his research process has been extended for several months since his visit to the Valley. Adrián made the decision to leave his work outdoors, on the land next to our fruit trees. This allows nature itself to play an active role in his work, influencing the transformation of the color and texture of the fabric as it interacts with the natural elements and the inexorable passage of time. His work thus becomes a living testimony of the collaboration between the artist and nature in his search for reconnection and meaning.
Irene, on the other hand, created an impressive piece of felt using heat for pressing. In her creative process, Irene was inspired by the rope. During her immersion in the shearing days in Karrantza, Irene observed how the hand and the rope merge into a functional and essential unit in said process. During this period, Irene delved into the repetition of knots in the ropes, identifying notable similarities with the art of marking textiles and acquiring a deeper appreciation of the relevance of knots in sewing. The resulting work and the reflections generated by the artist emphasize the interaction between the hand, the rope and the knot, exploring the convergence of these seemingly simple elements but imbued with a cultural and symbolic meaning of great magnitude.
Additionally, the book features a presentation text written by Laurita Siles, co-creator of the Mutur Beltz project. It also includes stories and reflections from Lala de Dios, a teacher and curator specializing in textile art, and Ramon Cobo from «Wooldreamers», a representative of a family project dedicated to the washing and transformation of wool. Together, they shared valuable knowledge in a fascinating meeting.
On our YouTube channel you can find links to a series of video interviews that present the individual reflections of each of these personalities.
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