Artesanías Panikua, Mexico
Tata Curiata, 2016
Wheat fiber
Descendants of the indigenous Purépecha people from Mexico’s Michoacán region, this family workshop weaves ancestral craftsmanship and mythology into every creation. Between farming and fishing, Antonio Cornelio, his wife Verónica, and two daughters Gabriela and Bertha, further a legacy that extends well beyond their own family. Several hundred strands of wheat fibre are woven together to form this Purépecha representation of a sun deity that denotes war and fire. Decorated by the dual motifs of stars and humming birds, it also illuminates the connection between craft and ancient farming techniques. The intricately designed piece is a testament to the inter-generational transfer of knowledge and skills; a practice that preserves the unbroken chain of ancient production.