Ana Vera Cruz - MA/MSc Textiles
Cultural Exploration of Castelo Branco
As an artist and textiles Print designer, my work explores the intersections of cultural memory, heritage, and contemporary design. My work reimagines the artistic traditions of Castelo Branco, Portugal, a region renowned for its embroidered silk coverlets and distinctive visual language.
Drawing inspiration from the city’s iconic blue tiles, geometric pavements, local animals, folkloric textiles and embroidery, and the vibrancy of Portuguese landscapes, I created a collection that bridges past and present. Each piece is developed through a combination of hand-drawn illustrations, watercolor pencil paintings, and digital repeat printing, bringing historic motifs into dialogue with modern techniques.
The wallpapers incorporate symbolic elements such as carnations: evoking freedom and revolution and the Portuguese cockerel, a symbol of resilience, perseverance, and hope. These layered references invite the viewer to reflect on the enduring relationship between craft, identity, and cultural storytelling.
The collection is accompanied by a curated cultural dictionary, which offers deeper insight into the visual traditions that inspired the work during my residency. Together, these pieces celebrate heritage as a living, evolving practice rather than a static relic of the past.
Through this collection, I aim to honour Portuguese craft traditions while reinterpreting them for a global audience, highlighting the role of design as a bridge between history, community, and contemporary life.
www.anaveracruzartanddesigns.com
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