Q and A with Vanessa Valero
“My art is a response to the landscapes I carry with me, particularly the Andes, it’s the landscape of my soul.”
- Vanessa Valero
1. How long have you been making art?
I’ve been creating textile art professionally for a decade now, starting in 2014. But I think it all started when my 3rd grade art teacher taught me how to use a loom. From then on during my free time and vacations I was always weaving.
2. Could you describe the region of Colombia you’re from?
I’m from Bogota, in the middle of Colombia. We are surrounded by mountains, by the Andes to be exact. These mountains shape our culture, our cities and towns. It’s part of our identity because most of the country is covered with them.
Vanessa Valero, Spirit Mountain, Hand tufted wool & polyester, 113 x 82 cm
AU$4000
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3. Could you describe the process of creating your tapestries?
I start with an image in my head of what I want to do. Then I carefully select a complex colour palette, between 20-30 shades of polyester and wool threads. The challenge is to balance all those colours.
My next step is to draw a guide onto the primary cloth (a weaver’s canvas) with large markers to indicate the shapes and mark out areas of different colours. Once I’m happy with that I start to add lines, shape and colour by hand-looming with my tapestry gun. Sometimes, the ideas evolve and change as I’m working.
Vanessa Valero, Musgo (Moss), Hand tufted wool & polyester, 102 x 89 cm
AU$3,500
5. Do you have a goal that you’re pursuing in your art practice?
Textile art still has to be taken more seriously as an art form. Although more and more is becoming recognised, there is more room for it to become important. I want to contribute to that and be part of a new generation that continues the work of fantastic women who started this movement.
4. Share a recent highlight of your artistic practice with us.
I recently completed an art residency in Canada where I was exploring new techniques and a new landscape. For me it's always interesting to navigate a new topography. I’m like a sponge of images. And those new experiences with the landscape will eventually come in my next pieces.
6. What's next for you?
I am excited to be showing at Melbourne Affordable Art Fair in August with SARAH BIRTLES Art + Advice.
I am also collaborating with my best friend on some new ideas. He’s a scientist, more specifically a space scientist. That's going to be interesting!