MAKERS | EUROPE | SPAIN | WEAVING
Adriana Meunié | Weaver

Born in Mallorca - where she currently works surrounded by the raw beauty of the southern countryside of the island - Adriana Meunié fabricates her works in natural fibres, such as wool, reed and esparto grass, using traditional techniques of loom weaving and canvas sewing. Her handmade pieces tell the story of the land and its ancient jobs, like shepherding and agriculture.
How did you begin?
I studied fashion design in Barcelona, so textiles have always been the language I know best. When I returned to Mallorca 11 years ago, I was seeking a change and believed I’d never do anything related to textiles again. But then, one day, I came across a chair with freshly sheared wool on the porch of a shepherd’s home: I was mesmerized with that image. I thought to myself: “This is so beautiful. If I could only transmit this.” I have been working with natural raw materials ever since.
My big motivation is to be able to share the importance and origin of the local materials and labors. I’m not as interested in transmitting emotions through my work, but I am determined to express the sensations that have to do with the nature of the material. I acknowledge that I’m working with artisanal processes, but I’m not creating artisanal objects, but artistic ones.
How did you learn?
I studied a year of basic weaving in Barcelona; the summer before returning to Mallorca I did a short course in the United States with a Navajo weaver (whose culture I deeply admire). After that, it all came through by trying different ways until I found something that could show the rawness of the materials, and yet produce something very clean at the same time.

How do you plan, prepare and create your works?
I always have a general idea of what the piece it's going to be like - the main shape, the type of material, etc. From there on, it's the material that really decides how the piece will turn up. I must adapt, because it's constantly changing, and my work is about letting the fibre express itself. I use the weaving loom, and I sew over canvas: both techniques allow me to achieve very different things.
My studio is located at Ses Covetes. I work in the house that I share with my partner, ceramicist Jaume Roig. We live in an old cow farm: our home space is small, which I love. After many construction adjustments, we now use many areas as studios. Mine are upstairs, for sewing and paperwork; I also have a room for wool work, and I use the old cow feeding space as a place for my large tapestries. It's very rustic, but I love it.
We have chickens, ducks, my beloved goat, two cats and a dog. Until recently, we also had sheep that I helped to shear. We’ve been here for the last three years.
Who or what most influences your work?
My surroundings are always in my mind. The countryside is a very important part of Majorca —even if the beaches are the most known. I live south of the island: down here the land is very flat, earthy and stony. There’s a big connection between the landscape palette and the raw materials from the land.
Textures and volumes are what I enjoy creating the most. I have an attraction for the strange, I want to achieve pieces that are not merely beautiful. As I live in the countryside, amongst my own farm animals, I’m aware that nature is not just beautiful: on the contrary, it’s very harsh, something that I truly appreciate.
What are the best and worst things about being a craftsperson today?
For me, the best thing is that I haven't got a daily routine: every day is different to the point that I don’t know if it's Sunday or Monday. This also means that I work every day. It’s been years since we’ve had a true vacation, but I don't really mind it.
The challenges are constant. I guess that you learn to live with uncertainty. Even so, for me, the worst is all the “computer work”: e-mails, social media, paperwork... All of this is essential but takes so much time. Sometimes I feel like I must fight to be able to be in my studio. Sadly, I think I’m doing 60 % of organization, and 40 % of actual studio work. So, I guess that time is the biggest challenge.
One more thing... A new maker or artist whose work excites you?
My favourite is textile sculptor, Simone Pheulpin. Also, textile wool artists Claudy Jongstra and Adrian Pepe; and textile artist Amy Usdin. In ceramics, Berta-Blanca T. Ivanow and Jaume Roig.
Regarding woolmakers in Spain, Llanatura is very important — it’s the only one that has managed to semi-industrialize wool from the island — and Wool Dreamers, because it’s reusing wool in the mainland and creating a very beautiful product.

Interview by Rebeca Vaisman
Images from Faro la Cueva and xxx