Project 11
Variaciones - Mariadela Araujo
Curated by Tsering Frykman-Glen.
October 11th - November 8th 2019, Tangent Projects gallery.
"Variaciones" exposes a textile vision, intertwined and overlapping, connecting colour research and how colour relates to the viewer. Following on from the theories of the Venezuelan Kinetic movement, Mariadela considers her vision, experiments and investigates how colour directly affects our lives.
While the materials and compositions of the presented works may differ, the common thread is one of colour. Leaving behind the typical format of fabric on fabric or classical embroidery, and moving the work into another format, the viewer is directly confronted with chromatic variations produced by the scale of the colour modules materialised in the physical space. These works significantly influence the environment in which they are in and the position in which the viewer is located, thus offering different chromatic intensities - by the type of material, texture, transparency and format.
"Prototypes for a Feminist Future, a collective exhibition curated by Tsering Frykman-Glen in Spring 2019, allowed me to open another path in my research, and thus be able to experience an artistic proposal with a more obvious optical effect. A work based on layers - layers that are noticed and layers that go unnoticed - directly related to current elements and situations of society." Variaciones are transformed into a set of experimental works, of study and of reflection.
Variaciones is a continuation of the exhibition project Prototypes for a Feminist Future, a group exhibition curated by Tsering Frykman-Glen for Tangent Projects in 2019. The exhibition sought to stimulate a dialogue regarding the potential of non-gendered structures and explore how to create an equitable microstructure, this would go on to develop the ideological foundation for the Tangent Projects independent artspace.
Mariadela Araujo is a freelance textile artist and fashion designer from Caracas that lives and works in Barcelona. Her style is best described as bold, abstract, instinctive, shape obsessive with an analytical study of colour composition that reaches abstract expressionism but with a Caribbean twist.
Academically trained in fashion design and weaving techniques, Mariadela's artwork traverses artworks, bespoke pieces and large format installations. Having lived and worked “pretty much everywhere” in her 10-year career (Caracas, Helsinki, Rome, Barcelona), every single one of these experiences shaped her as a creative person.
Having studied for her Degree in Fine Arts at Instituto Universitario de Estudios Superiores de Artes Plásticas Armando Reverón in Caracas, Mariadela Araujo continued her formal education in Rome (Fashion Design, Accademia Koefia and Fashion Stylist - Master, IED) and Barcelona (Weaving Techniques, Escola Textil Terraninya). She has shown both collectively and individually, including in Limited Edition Be (Mouscron), Artnit Campos Art Festival (Mallorca) and Art Festival Gargar (Penelles) among others.
After running several important projects, in 2018 Mariadela opened her own studio in Barcelona, working on art pieces and developing products, installations and international collaborations.
Mariadela is also a weaving teacher and regularly holds classes and courses in her studio in Barcelona.