Valeria Masala
Deincantos
Weaver
Nule, Italy
Woven deconstructions
- Valeria weaves textile pieces inspired by a local carpet making tradition
- Her goal is to highlight the creative process behind weaving
- She works on a vertical loom with Sardinian wool and other local materials
Valeria Masala’s path to weaving was not as traditional as most weavers in her native Nule, a small Sardinian village known for its woollen carpets handwoven on vertical looms. While in between jobs in 2015, she enrolled in an introductory weaving course organised to encourage people to take up the declining craft. “I instantly fell in love with the process of weaving itself,” she says. “I realised that I wanted to learn as much as possible, not to become a professional weaver, but to share this beautiful craft.” Soon after, Valeria launched her studio Deincantos, where she creates framed textile art pieces with her own interpretation of traditional carpet weaving. With the aim of revealing the creative process behind weaving, her pieces expose the warp, the structural foundation of the fabric that is usually concealed beneath the weft.
Discover her work
INTERVIEW
I weave to explain the craft. Through deconstruction, I reveal the process behind the finished work, uncovering what is normally hidden. In one of my collections, I expose the warp, the structural foundation of the fabric that is usually concealed behind the weft.
Sardinia has a rich weaving heritage, with techniques that vary from village to village. I focus on the Nule tradition, specifically the stuoia technique performed on a vertical loom. I have also explored forgotten techniques, such as the pre-1950s practice of creating single-sided carpets.
In keeping with Nule’s tradition, I work exclusively with Sardinian wool for both warp and weft, using stronger threads for the warp, and thinner and softer threads for the weft. In some pieces, I combine wool with other materials typical of our local heritage, such as velvet, brocade or cork.
I try to be as faithful to the past as possible. My colourful, geometric patterns are all borrowed from Nule’s tradition, though they look strikingly modern. What distinguishes my work from traditional carpet making is my approach, which is more artistic and educational than purely functional.
