TETHERED BY A COMMON THREAD
TWENTY ONE TONNES and ALRATITOstudio are pleased to present THREADS: the new weave movement, a group exhibition of large scale works by women textile artists who are tethered by a common thread to Mexico.
"The show brings together artisans and designers from Mexico and France, showcasing an extraordinary blend of traditional and modern textile artistry. Highlighting techniques such as Mexico’s ancient back-strap loom and Europe’s sophisticated jacquard weaving, the exhibition celebrates the cultural exchange of craftsmanship. Artisans use traditional fibers and intricate patterns, while others push boundaries by incorporating contemporary elements, like paint applied directly to fabric. These innovations transform traditional methods into dynamic, artistic expressions, bridging past and present. The show not only honors ancestral techniques but also redefines them, creating unique pieces that reflect both heritage and modern creativity." — Nadia Guitteau, ALRATITOstudio
ARTISTS
CASA TEXTÍL
Founded by Benjamin Measures, Casa Textíl is a community-oriented business with over 10 years of experience building long-term relationships with waist loom weaving communities across the highlands of Chiapas in southern Mexico, including Aldama, Cancuc, Carranza, Pantelhó, Yochib, and Zinacantán.
It is designed principally to create the best conditions for each artisan to take their existing talents to new heights, to innovate unique textiles and designs, and then to weave those innovations into lives across the globe, with the ultimate goal of supporting traditional weaving communities in building a future with broader opportunities.
The Sueño (dream) panels are handwoven textiles crafted by artisans in Chiapas, Mexico. These intricate pieces feature an array of horizontal and vertical lines, capturing a sense of timelessness and the fluidity of moments through their pattern and sheerness. The juxtaposition of lines creates a subtle movement, inviting the viewer to ponder the nonlinearity of time. Each thread carries the history and dreams of the artisans, blending traditional techniques with contemporary expression. The panels not only adorn a space but also serve as visual meditations on the continuity and interruptions that shape human experience.
MX ATELIER
Originally from Colombia, Paloma Santa Cruz is a textile artist based in Quintana Roo, Mexico who specializes in the creation of large scale installations and macramé pieces. A painter who was planning to be based in Mexico temporarily while giving painting workshops, Paloma discovered macramé while on a trip to Tulúm. She began experimenting with the craft until she became skilled enough to start selling her wares, and eventually teach her skills to others.
Today the company is run by Paloma alongside her partner Ricardo Duran. The strength of MX Atelier’s work is in the obsessive attention to detail and mastery of Paloma’s designs, which range from stunning large scale installations to decorative objects and wall-mounted pieces that are true works of art.
COCO BRUN
Paris-based multidisciplinary artist Coco Brun creates installations, textiles, paintings, and sculptures that blur the boundaries between art and craftsmanship. She has attended workshops in Italy, Portugal, Mexico and North Africa where she has met with weavers, glaziers and other artisans to garner unique insights into each craft practice.
Her tapestries are the result of meticulous work, where the threads and materials are carefully sourced from around the world, particularly from Mexico, Thailand, and Japan. During her artistic residencies, Coco collaborates with local artisans to craft these threads, exploring different dyeing and weaving techniques unique to each country: silk in Thailand, cotton in Japan, and wool in Mexico.
Her work has been shown at Art Paris, Biennale Emergence Paris, the PAD, the Villa Lena Foundation and the Parco Del Sesi in Pantelleria, Italy.
LUIS ENRIQUE AGUILAR PEREDA
San Cristóbal de las Casas based photographer Luis Enrique Aguilar Pereda studied at the Escuela Activa de Fotografia. His work has been exhibited in Mexico, the United States, Colombia, and Spain, and has been published in Vice Magazine, Miami New Times, Magis Magazine, La Jornada, and l'oeil de la photographie, among others.
A founding member of the Photographers Collective Tagameluz in San Cristóbal, Chiapas, he also coordinated the Gimnasio de Arte y Cultura Chiapas project. He now runs the Chiapaneca photography platform MIRADOR.
He was selected for the 14th Latin American Photography contest in Colombia, the 7th Puebla Biennial in Los Angeles, the 3rd Biennial in Chiapas, and the 15th Photography Biennial of the Centro de la Imagen. He received a special mention from the jury at the Migraciones Internacionales y Fronteras (International Migrations and Borders) Contest in Spain, and an honorable mention in the "Un dia en la vida de los chiapanecos" contest at the Universidad Intercultural de Chiapas.
ABOUT THE CURATOR
Nadia Guitteau is a curator who splits her time between Mexico City, Los Angeles and Paris. Her studio, ALRATITOstudio showcases dynamic contemporary design, where diverse artist visions come together into a shared narrative. The studio's vision is honest and simple: they focus on raw and powerful forms, embracing avant-garde qualities and rough materiality to create exceptional spaces that let architecture speak.
OPENING
Please join us and Nadia of ALRATITOstudio for an opening reception featuring a discussion with Benjamin Measures of Casa Textíl. Benjamin is travelling from Chiapas to share some context on this textile rich and conflict torn region of southernmost Mexico.
The event will also showcase stunning videography by Luis Enrique Aguilar Pereda who spent time with three weavers from Casa Textíl to document their craft process and surrounding environment.
