Textile scenes in unconstrained gestures
- Maïa developed innovative techniques that give textile threads new forms of expression
- She sees colour as a discipline in its own right
- Her pieces explore humankind's relationship with nature's beauty and fragility
Maïa Mentrel transforms textile waste into handcrafted, colour-rich art with techniques she develops through her research. Since 2019, and under the name of her atelier Tilko, she combines simple, repetitive gestures to create pieces born from a balance of control and chance. Maïa discovered fine craftsmanship in Paris with Tzuri Gueta, whose textile and silicone works transformed her approach to creation. “I understood that one or two materials could be enough to become poetry, narration or art, as long as they are handled with care and expertise," she says. Maïa's works create unique environments, where recycled materials are transformed into objects that tell stories and convey a sense of life and movement. “I am usually most creative within constraints. I work with what I have on hand, and manipulate materials without necessarily thinking of a precise outcome,” she explains.
Interview
- Does the environment play a big role in your practice?
- Yes, it is the starting point of my practice, which was born from the conviction to create with what already exists around me. I developed unique techniques using end-of-spools of thread from textile companies with mainly cotton and silk, materials normally destined to be destroyed because they no longer meet production standards.
- What challenges does your approach create for your craft?
- Since my techniques are unique, each aspect of my practice has its own set of challenges, from my one-of-a-kind pieces to my 3D works and collaborations on large-scale projects.
- How do collaborations influence your work?
- Collaborating with other artists is a real pleasure, as it allows me to develop my technique, share collective creative moments and explore 3D creations.
- Do you see your work as part of a wider artistic movement?
- It is difficult to clearly define belonging, or not, to an artistic movement. However, textile art now holds an increasingly significant place, as it had long been relegated to the status of a creative hobby. By raising awareness to the issue of overproduction in the textile industry, we create the desire to question our relationship with nature in order to face this challenge, in the spirit of Nouveau Réalisme.
Maïa Mentrel is a rising star: she began her career in 2016
Where
Maïa Mentrel
