Juão Gomes

Basketweaver

©Clara Bóia

Inspired by the wild grasses of the Cerrado

Juão considers his craft to be a calling beyond a mere profession
He considers co-creation between artisans and designers fundamental
His desire to share his knowledge lead him to train many people throughout Brazil

Juão Gomes talks about his work with affection and enthusiasm, but recalls that his path to becoming an artist and artisan was not easy. He was often told that weaving fibres and plants would provide him no future and he considered giving up a few times. A native of the Cerrado, he claims the plants are the catalyst for his work. Juão shows enormous concern over the management of natural resources and cultural heritage of the Cerrado biome, and he weaves this reverence for nature into his products with affection. Juão has a strong desire to transform lives through craftsmanship. "I have now lost count of how many people I have trained throughout Brazil," he says. He is recognised as a Master Craftsman of Cultural Reference for his efforts to help vulnerable social groups through the transmission of his savoir-faire.

Interview

©Clara Bóia

©Clara Bóia

Do you remember the moment when you first thought of picking up this craft?: I like to think that I was born an artisan and that instead of choosing the craft, the craft chose me. At age 13, I would go for long walks around the Cerrado fields and be fascinated with the diversity of plants, which is when creative ideas first came to me. I looked at a vine and already imagined turning it into a garland. I looked at a leaf and imagined turning it into a flower.
What is the link between the territory, sustainability and your creative process?: I only work with natural local fibres, such as colony grass and buriti. I manually harvest the raw material, applying sustainable management techniques, respecting the seasonality of the species and the reforestation of the vegetation. I am mindful that the grass works as a natural protection barrier in filtering pollution from entering the Cerrado. Therefore, preserving the grass is a way of contributing to the survival of the ecosystem.
Does your work contribute to strengthening cultural heritage?: I always say that craftsmanship is a transforming agent. Much beyond producing objects, the artisan who transmits what he knows is passing on the experience of generations before him. A master is someone who has knowledge that needs to be passed on to others, which strengthens cultural heritage. We need to teach young people to develop these techniques so that this work is not lost in the future.
What do you like to teach your apprentices?: In my workshops I teach how to collect and process raw materials, braiding techniques, dyeing and how to finish products. But I also talk about the Cerrado ecosystem, plants, other types of raw materials, and the need for plant management as a means to sustain the environment and preserve the craft as well as our cultural heritage.

Juão Gomes is a master artisan: he began his career in 1980 and he started teaching in 1990