Silvia Caballero & María Vidagañ

Balikypopoy

Basketweaver

©Vera de Arriba

©Balikypopoy Espart

Art emerging from nature

Silvia and María studied art and opened their workshop in 2011
They learned their craft from María’s grandfather
They work with a local material, esparto grass

A bowl was the first object that Silvia and María brought to life using esparto grass, a material that belongs to their Mediterranean culture and landscape. Esparto grass may at first seem difficult to work with, but the pair discovered that it was possible to use it to create everyday objects, and that the possibilities were infinite. Specialised in braiding and sewing the material, all their pieces stand out for their delicacy. Inspiration is everywhere for Silvia and María: of course in the landscape, but also in ancient pieces they discover in museums. “We feel that we are extending the life of a traditional technique by adapting it to our contemporary way of creation,” they explain.

Interview

©Balikypopoy Espart

©Balikypopoy Espart

How did you discover esparto grass?: María’s grandfather taught us the traditional technique of his family. We were passionate about working with such a fragile material, which comes from a plant, and then building something solid. Our first step was braiding it and we immediately felt that it was our best means of expression.
Does esparto grass link you to nature?: Absolutely. It comes from nature and could return to it once used, without damaging it. Esparto grass belongs to the Mediterranean world, to our landscape and to our culture. It’s a sustainable material with a long life.
What skills are necessary for this craft?: It needs a lot of patience, because production is very slow, totally different from today's way of life. These days everything, in life and in work, demands speed. But we think that a new time will come.
What makes a high quality piece?: Time is crucial, and the fact that every piece is different. Time is precisely what we like the most in our profession: time for every piece to come to life, to evolve from one day to another.

Silvia Caballero & María Vidagañ are master artisans: they began their career in 2011 and they started teaching in 2015