Antonio Pichillá, “Abuela”, 2016

Antonio Pichillá

“Abuela”, 2016

tecido e fios mercerizados
textile and mercerized threads

200 x 100 x 9 cm
78.74 x 39.37 x 3.54 in

An indigenous artist from the Mayan Tz'utujil people, Antonio Pichillá works with a variety of media, but finds textile weaving as his main focus of interest. For him, the processes and materials that involve textile traditions represent a way of rescuing his ancestry, especially through the memory of the women of his own family. His research is also based on the collectivity, culture and symbols of his people, native from the Lake Atitlan region (Guatemala).

Antonio Pichillá, a Guatemalan artist of Maya Tz'utujil heritage, has developed a particular interest in textile arts, especially in the ancestral weaving techniques of his people. These techniques, as well as their patterns and colors, bear rich symbolic meanings, deeply rooted in the spirituality and cultural traditions of his people.

The work Abuela embodies the ancestral wisdom that is passed down by the women in Pichillá’s family, while it also reinterprets and perpetuates this cultural legacy. The knots in his creation refer to Mayan shamanic and energetic rituals, symbolizing the interconnectedness of beings and their continuous renewal. Besides symbolizing connection, the knot also represents articulation and structure, simultaneously suggesting the inherent tension in these relationships.

O guatemalteco Antonio Pichillá, indígena de origem Maia Tz'utujil, desenvolveu um particular interesse pela arte têxtil, principalmente pelas técnicas tradicionais de tecelagem empregadas pelos seus ancestrais. Tanto as técnicas, quanto as padronagens e cores, carregam simbolismos relacionados à espiritualidade e às tradições de seu povo.

A obra "Abuela" traz o conhecimento ancestral das mulheres da família do artista, além de reinterpretar e dar continuidade a essa herança cultural. Seus nós fazem referência às práticas xamânicas e energéticas dos Maias, representando o vínculo entre os seres e seus recomeços, já que é a união entre eles que lhes permite continuar. Além de unir, o nó também significa uma articulação e uma estrutura, ao passo que faz uma alusão à relação de tensão entre eles.