Born in the Algarve, and at just 32 Vanessa Barragão has already conquered the world with her art of creating unique tapestries where ancestral and artisanal techniques from textile waste merge into extraordinary works. In an interview, the artist tells us about the creative process and the essence of her pieces, which can be found in London, Japan, Australia and the United States, namely at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

How did you get to such international prominence? 

How did you get to such international prominence? I started my work when I was still at university studying fashion design. Whenever I created some-thing new, I showed the whole process on the Ins-tagram page I had created to promote my work and, little by little, I began to reach more people. It was a very natural process, and I confess that I never thought that this work, which gave me so much pleasure, would become what I do full-time today.

What made you decide to use the artisanal and ancestral techniques that are so present in your work?

I believe it was passed down to me from my family. Growing up watching my grandparents create with their own hands awakened in me this passion for manual techniques, which today is the foundation of my work.

What most influences this unique vision of sustainability that your work offers? Do you believe that art can be an agent of change or that it can have the power to awaken environmental awareness? 

Yes, art has the power to awaken. I fully believe in it and that’s one of the reasons why I fight for it through my art. All my work is inspired by the seabed and what is happening there as a result of human-created pollution. By recycling materials and using artisanal production processes, we can actually help to reduce our environmental footprint.

What was the exhibition that most impacted you? 

It was when I installed the tapestry ‘Botanical’ at Heathrow airport. It was the first major work I’d done that was exhibited in such an important place.

And the piece whose creation challenged you the most?

It was also the Botanical piece. At the time I had a relatively small studio and this piece was huge! It took about six months to make and that made it the most important piece for me... I created a very strong bond with this piece.

You say that “the creative process is slow and requires passion and dedication. It’s organic and spontaneous, with unpredictable results.” Is this work “philosophy” also confirmed in commissions?

In some cases, yes, when the client gives me the go-ahead. In other cases I have to present drawings showing the colours and shapes I’m going to use, but something very basic. In this way, I always manage to adopt my organic and spontaneous working method, following just a few guidelines.

What role does your family play in the context of the “nature” that surrounds and inspires you?

My family is an integral part of my team. They have inspired me and made me the artist I am today, without whom I would probably be something else. That’s why I’ve made sure from the start that they’re part of my team. Being able to have my family, including my mum, sister, dad and grandparents, at my side creating is one of the things I love most and I think my work is also the result of their dedication, since the beginning.

What secret places harbour your dreams and projects before you take them to your studio?

My imagination flourishes in unexpected ways... I get lots of ideas when I’m immersed in nature. This contact is very important for my creativity.

What does your poetry tell us?

I try to show how beautiful and magical our planet is and how important it is to preserve it. Our bond with nature is part of our essence, but with the pace of life we lead and the degradation of the planet, this connection tends to be lost. My work tries to bring this bond into people’s homes, bringing the connection and the reminder that nature is part of our essence.

The world has opened its doors to you. And in Portugal, what invitation would you like to receive to exhibit or to create a special piece?

I’d love to be able to exhibit at Maat one day, with an installation of suspended works that invite us to dive into an underwater world created by textiles.