English Version | Artisanal Affair

maisonartc

Under the motto "in a society that profits from uncertainty, self-love is an act of rebellion", Maisonartc's artistic vision is united by a creative freedom that, while avant-garde, promotes a constant dialogue between heritage, culture, individuality and authenticity. From Marrakech, Morocco, Maisonartc's work has sustainability at the centre of its practice, seeking to interweave local craftsmanship, artisanal manufacturing of excellence, art and fashion. From this fusion are born unique pieces and photographic works that defy conventional categories. In a game of contrasting silhouettes, which explores the encounter between ancestral and contemporary aesthetics, the creations weave narratives that transcend eras and deconstruct linear notions of space and time. With participations in high-profile exhibitions - such as Africa Fashion in 2022 at the V&A Museum - and collaborations that demonstrate his dynamism, such as Maisonartc x Swatch in 2023 and a capsule collection for Harrods in 2024, Maisonartc has established himself as an unavoidable reference on the international art scene.

"In a society that profits from uncertainty, self-love is an act of rebellion."

Vanessa Barragão

From a very young age, Vanessa Barragão showed a deep fascination for creating with her own hands - from sandcastles to dolls' clothes, her path as an artisan was charted from an early age. Born in Albufeira, where the sea and the countryside intertwine in culture and everyday life, it is in these settings that her work finds its roots and inspiration, mirroring personal experiences, memories and reflections. Aware of the vulnerability of these environments - which are increasingly threatened by excessive consumption - and after studying fashion design, Barragão realised the impact this industry has on the planet. Since then, she has built an artistic practice based on sustainability and respect for the natural environment: "Art is a very important vehicle for conveying the message not only of raising awareness of climate change issues, but also to bring a sign of hope." Using ancestral textile craft techniques, the artist finds an inexhaustible source of inspiration in the fauna and flora of Portugal's landscapes. Through organic shapes and enveloping textures, she recreates fragments of ecosystems, in a work that is both a tribute to nature and an appeal for its preservation.

"Art is a very important vehicle for conveying the message not only of raising awareness of climate change issues, but also to bring a sign of hope."

Damselfrau

With a unique artistic vision and meticulous mastery, Damselfrau (stage name Magnhild Kennedy) sets out to reinvent the concept of the mask, giving it new meanings and transforming it into an autonomous and symbolic object. Her artistic journey began in 2007, in London, and since then her work has been guided by fictional narratives and fantasies that emerge throughout the creative process. It is in the materials themselves - found or created - that she finds inspiration: from the hair of a geisha over 200 years old to banal everyday objects. Through a fusion of materials and ancestral visual references, Damselfrau builds an imaginary universe rooted in ancient motifs such as masks - which she describes as "much a subject of others' projection as it is my own" - while at the same time projecting a contemporary and futuristic vision, reinterpreting familiar silhouettes and giving them new layers of reading. As for the creative process, Damselfrau faces the technical challenges that arise with enthusiasm and pleasure, finding innovative solutions along the way - it is precisely in the semi-improvised responses that the Norwegian artist finds one of the greatest sources of artistic expression.

"For me, the mask is a place where different elements come together in a situation. The work is this place-situation, not masks as a theme, category or form. The mask is a place."

Ronit Baranga

With a unique aesthetic that seeks to merge the boundaries between reality and still life, Ronit Baranga's work is immediately distinguished by its originality. Through realistic sculptures that evoke both nature and the human body - often incorporated into utilitarian objects such as ceramic pieces - the artist subverts expectations and provokes a feeling of discomfort and strangeness in the viewer. Recognisable figures take on new life by merging into an almost counter-natural composition, where human tongues and fingers emerge from cups and plates, giving them an expressive, somewhat playful dimension that transforms everyday life into something disturbingly animated. In a hybrid territory between art and craft, Baranga questions these established boundaries, especially the idea that the functionality of a piece determines its belonging to one domain or another. By using ceramics to represent humanised utilitarian objects, the artist opens up a dialogue about identity and autonomy, giving them a voice of their own - transforming them into active entities, capable of choosing what they are. With a presence in both group exhibitions and private collections, Baranga's work has been presented in numerous galleries and museums around the world. Among the most notable participations are the group show Dismaland, conceived by Banksy, and various solo exhibitions in cities such as New York, Istanbul and Taiwan.

"In my "Doubtfully Alive" series of sculptures I sculpt human fingers and mouths emerging from tableware. The idea is to test and redefine the relationship between the useful tableware and the person using it. I gave them the organs we use and created tableware that can sense its environment and respond to it."

Joana Vasconcelos

With an artistic language that challenges social norms and questions issues such as the status of women, consumerism and collective identity, Joana Vasconcelos' work has established itself as a relevant voice on the contemporary art scene in Portugal. Through monumental sculptures and immersive installations, the artist reinvents the codes of traditional Portuguese culture while exploring (and challenging) the limits of materials. With humour and irony, her works subvert popular heritage, re-contextualising everyday objects. Today, with a career spanning three decades, Vasconcelos has explored a wide variety of techniques in the world of plastic arts, with works featured in internationally renowned galleries and exhibitions - including, in 2023, the Uffizi Galleries and the Pitti Palace, where he exhibited alongside masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Caravaggio, as well as at the Calouste Gulbenkian and Louis Vuitton foundations. One of the most prominent names on the art scene at home and abroad, in 2012 the artist was the youngest woman to exhibit at the Palace of Versailles - an exhibition that became the most visited in France in the last 50 years, with 1.6 million visitors.

"I love creating works that leave people thinking, but what interests me most of all is the connection they create with the pieces and that they have fun."

Translated from the original in The Arts & Craft issue, published May 2025. For full stories and credits, see the print issue.