Embodying art and activism, textile artist Vanessa Barragão uses salvaged yarns and traditional craft techniques, such as latch hook, macrame and crochet, to create her ocean floor motifs that address the devastating effects of the textile industry on our coral reefs. We spoke to Vanessa about her extraordinary work…
Coral Garden, by Vanessa Baragao
Vanessa, how did you come up with the idea for your ocean floor textile art?
It was something very organic. I grew up at the seaside, so the ocean has been a constant in my life. When I was young my parents used to take me out to see coral reefs. They were the most impressive thing I’d ever seen, and that's something that has stayed with me to this day.
As I got older I learned what was happening to the coral reefs – their bleaching and death – so I decided to raise awareness and appeal to people to be more conscious about what's happening in the water; to see what they can change in their daily routines to improve the health of our oceans and the planet.
How would you describe yourself as an artist?
Because of the theme of my work, I could class myself as an artivist (artist + activist), but more specifically in my case, an artisan + activist! I try to keep my work as eco-conscious as possible – I'm very careful with the sustainability of my process and the materials I use. I’m always looking for new ways to collect waste from the textile industry, and thinking about how can I apply new recycled materials to my work.
Vanessa uses salvaged yarns and recycled materials to create sculptural carpets and tapestry
What have been the highlights of your crafting journey so far?
Displaying a piece at Heathrow Airport made me feel very proud! It's a huge space and a lot of people go through it every day. It was a big moment.
Also, the Coral Garden I created at the 2019 Domotex in Hannover was a big highlight of my career. The installation was very well received – everyone seemed to love it.
Are there any other projects you're working on that you'd like to tell us about?
Yes! The project I'm working on right now is really something new for me as it’s meant to be installed outdoors. I can’t tell you much yet but it will be a large scale installation, unveiled in July. I'm so looking forward to sharing it with everyone.
Where you turn for inspiration, particularly when you're in a creative lull?
I travel! It doesn't need to be anywhere far. I also try to be more in contact with nature. When I escape the studio and my daily routine, I usually return with new ideas and more creativity to work on my projects.
What have you learned from this extraordinary past 18 months? And how do you hope things will move forward from the pandemic?
I'm really hoping that this whole situation clears up so that we can return to our 'normal' lives again but right now, I'm not sure what will happen in the future. Unfortunately, a few events where I was supposed to display my work were cancelled, but I kept working in my studio and tried to figure out new ways to display my creations. It’s important for artists to improve the ways we display our work, and to keep working and stay motivated.
Inspired by her grandmother’s craft skills, Vanessa learned to sew as a child, making clothes for her dolls from scrap fabrics
Tell us about your studio - how does it reflect you?
I try to keep things I really like and enjoy here at the studio - sea shells, plants and upcycled furniture. I keep the studio as clean as possible and with a pleasant scent. I love essential oils - I believe they boost my creativity.
I have lots of plants here. Taking care of them relaxes me, which is is good after a day of work. One thing I really enjoy is finding unwanted furniture (and other objects) left by trash bins. Most finds end up here at the studio and I try to bring them back to life as best as I can.
What's on your bedside table?
I’ve just moved into a new home and I haven't had the time to put everything in place yet, but so far I have a wooden mushroom that diffuses essential oils, which helps me relax as well as boost my creativity. I also have a few energy stones that I’ve been collecting over the years.
