(by Mariana Martinez)

My latest project began during lockdown. I felt a «vital» need for ethical and environmental activism and real contact, which translated into a process of reclaiming matter in the face of the global trend of distance and ever-expanding technology. (Materials and materialities that I have been working on for many years, but now has become evident). Seeking contact, tangible artistic expression and minimizing waste. Something had to be reclaimed. And it wasn’t economic, but the power to express oneself in Matter.

Right now, there are various points in the world where textile waste is being dumped from the air. One can be found in the Atacama Desert. Over production in fast fashion is causing increasingly large mountains of waste like this all over the Global South.

In Europe, reports include photos and videos documenting the devastating consequences for people and the environment in countries like Kenya and Tanzania: enormous mountains of trash that contaminate rivers and the air.

As a textile communicator and maker, coming from the #slowfashion and #lessismore movements, this situation cannot leave me indifferent.

That’s why I have allowed myself the necessary time to reflect on this whole issue without taking too much action. I felt that it was necessary to pause. To let things breathe and be patient while I built a capsule, a drop to be activated in the best possible way, in time and place. The time has come to act, to showcase, in a responsible manner!

The project will be presented in the form of an installation and there will be surprises to revealed very soon !

And let it be VITAL!