Buenos Aires: Marina Soria, 2021. A unique artists' book with text in English by Ruth Corcuera from the book "Teleras, Memoria del Monte Quichua." The text describes the importance of textiles in the Andean region and describes how they were used "to protect, to give warmth, and to sustain life" - much like a mother's womb. Corcuera's text goes on to say that "In time, textile art will be the means to tell us through colours and designs that the world can be read through symbols, as in a written text ... Textiles [were] a major art with many roles, among them to express that where words did not suffice."
Marina Soria's calligraphic interpretation is in a style that resembles the flowing of thread arranged in rows of color like in a woven textile. In some places the words are clearly legible, but in others they are are purposefully distorted to create an impression of thread, texture, and weaving. When viewed fully open, each letter appears like a stitch to create the illusion of a sewn tapestry. This homage to Andean textiles, which were traditionally conceived of and created by women, depicts the shape of a womb in negative space with words stretched along the edges.
The text reads:
“Thousands of years ago,
when only the voice recorded small and big events of everyday life,
women would cover their newborn child in a wrap.
In this we see a space created between the mother´s womb and the world outside.
We believe textiles were born from such gestures,
within the realm of feelings and from a women´s view:
to protect, to give warmth and to sustain life.
In time, textile art will be the means to tell us through colors and designs
that the world can be read through symbols, (signs)
as in a written text.
In the great American cultures these symbols were a kind of lingua franca
and textiles a major art with many roles,
among them to express that where words did not suffice.”
Bound in brick red cloth by the artist with an inlay of antique textile. Includes an attachement of fleece, beads, and found objects. The calligraphy is done in gouache on Rives BFK, 100% cotton paper. This piece can be unfolded and read as a codex or displayed in full on a wall using the cloth tabs bound into an edge of the front cover and accompanying wooden dowel. In fine condition. Size: 110 x 22 cm open; 22 x 25 cm closed.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Marina Soria is a seasoned artist and educator with degrees in Fine Arts and Graphic Design. Not content to just immerse herself in learning calligraphy at international conferences, and through courses with renown calligraphers, she studied Eastern principles of Beauty in sumi-e (Japanese painting). She distilled and blended these principles with her rich experience and background in the fine arts, typography and graphic arts, employing unique approaches and techniques. She has also dabbled in the textile arts, creating a metaphor for weaving; letters as stitches and text as if it were a textile. Her works, vibrating with a love for nature and exploding with life and color, can be found in calligraphy collections in museums, universities, and libraries in the U.S., Europe, and South America. Marina has received numerous national and international awards, and has been featured widely in calligraphic arts publications. A prolific artist, experimental calligrapher, book artist, and educator, her goal is to mingle diverse disciplines to challenge the limits of conceptual art and technique. ARTISTSB/101422. Fine. More