Paola Idrontino

Papayapie

Costume designer

©Paola Idrontino

Fantastical narratives told in folds and fabrics

Paola creates surrealist characters and sculptures using mixed media
Her creations have been exhibited in museums and galleries in Spain and abroad
She has been featured in Vogue, Divers for the Environment, Elle Serbia and Condé Nast

Paola Idrontino’s unique textile creations gradually start calling for quiet reflection as her textures and colours flood the senses. "My costumes mirror a rich inner world of liberation and transformation," she says. "I come from generations of seamstresses in Southern Italy. However, I felt limited by the patriarchy surrounding me, so I moved to England at 19," Paola explains. She found London to be an incredible source for exploration, and graduated with a degree in art and design from Central Saint Martins in 2004. Following her studies, Paola launched her atelier Papayapie in 2005, which became a platform for her fanciful creations in folds and fabrics. Today, based in Barcelona, she draws from the sea, soundscapes and her vivid imagination to cloak characters with her bold storytelling.

Interview

©Paola Idrontino

©Paola Idrontino

Which piece do you consider to be your most significant?: Evanescent was my first textile sculpture to carry a powerful statement on climate change and its impact on coral reefs. The piece took two years to complete and is mostly made of recycled fabric. The natural landscape of the Montseny region in Catalonia, where I was living at the time, offered a stillness that allowed my total immersion in the project.
What themes have you explored through your creations?: My work often explores the contrast between something uncanny and a deeper appreciation of beauty within. I am also drawn to the human character as seen through fables and the animal realm. Flowers, corals and insects emerge in my surrealist creatures.
How is storytelling a fundamental part of your craft?: Every creative act of mine is moved by a story behind it. I find scenography and photography complementary to my work. Storytelling began as a way to showcase my first series of costumes representing the spirit of the animals – the mouse for scrutiny, the cow for illusion, the crow for silence, the frog for change and the rabbit for evolution.
Who typically commissions your work?: I have become very multidisciplinary and I tailor to clients from various fields. I am sought by theatres, dance companies and performing artists for bespoke productions. I also design pieces for cabaret and burlesque performers, which grants me a new avenue for creative exploration.

Paola Idrontino is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2005