Maria Barceló Tous, IS, 2027
“Soy como un árbol, con las raíces en un país y las ramas abiertas al mundo” – Eduardo Chillida
(I am like a tree, with roots in a country and branches open to the world.)
Maria Barceló Tous is an artist in evolution from Mallorca, Spain. She is majoring in interdisciplinary sculpture at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Maria has participated in exhibitions internationally and has been published by the Acuarium of the Pacific. Her art is mostly inspired by Spanish folklore, nature, and the relationship between emotions and the body. Maria is currently experimenting with biomaterials, and learning how to mix her weaving skills with wood and unconventional materials.
Llatra
Llatra, or llata, is a traditional basket weaving in Mallorca. It started in prehistory with nomadic cultures. It is a common weaving technique in the Mediterranean. Traditionally, llatra is made of the new leaves of Chamaerops humilis.
This project is an experiment to see if it’s possible to make llatra with bacterial cellulose. The conclusion is that the pellicle, before drying, needs to be about 1 inch thick to make weaving easier. My pellicle split into two very thin parts, which compromises the structure of the weaving. I was particularly interested in the translucency that the material has behind the light, and it created a beautiful pattern that I would like to experiment with in the future.
Process
The process followed the laboratory protocol. I chose to use the medium-sized container. After 4 weeks, the pellicle had grown to 1 inch, but it had already begun to separate in half. It was not contaminated. During washing, the pellicle separated completely, creating two uneven pellicles with a lot of texture. I decided to use the 2% glycerol solution treatment and air drying due to the elastic and translucent qualities it provides. Since the sheets were very thin, weaving them was difficult, and I had to use glue to make the joins strong. Because there are two different pellicles, you can see the thinner one, the darker part of the fabric, and the thicker one, the lighter part of the fabric.
Learn More
Instagram: mbarce_art
Website: Mariabarcelotous.com