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© Vera de Arriba
© Balikypopoy Espart
© Balikypopoy Espart
© Balikypopoy Espart
© Balikypopoy Espart

Silvia Caballero and María Vidagañ

  • Balikypopoy
  • Basketweaver
  • Casinos, Spain
  • Master Artisan
Silvia Caballero and María Vidagañ Basketweaver
Contact
Spanish, Catalonian, English, French, Greek
Hours:
By appointment only
Phone:
+34 687507221
© Balikypopoy Espart

Art emerging from nature

  • • Silvia and María studied art and opened their workshop in 2011
  • • They learned their craft from María’s grandfather
  • • They work with a local material, esparto grass

A bowl was the first object that Silvia and María brought to life using esparto grass, a material that belongs to their Mediterranean culture and landscape. Esparto grass may at first seem difficult to work with, but the pair discovered that it was possible to use it to create everyday objects, and that the possibilities were infinite. Specialised in braiding and sewing the material, all their pieces stand out for their delicacy. Inspiration is everywhere for Silvia and María: of course in the landscape, but also in ancient pieces they discover in museums. “We feel that we are extending the life of a traditional technique by adapting it to our contemporary way of creation,” they explain.

Read the full interview

Works

  • © Vera de Arriba
  • © Vera de Arriba
  • © Vera de Arriba
  • © Vera de Arriba
Photo: © Vera de Arriba
Cabàs Petit

This small Cabàs bag is made from a single type of sewn braid. The bag is braided with esparto fibre and sewn with natural hemp string. Traditionally made with two handles, this bag is meant for carrying a variety of products such as items from local markets.

Diameter 25 cm
Height 16 cm

Photo: © Vera de Arriba
Cesto

This round plant basket is intended for multiple uses. The basket was handwoven using braided esparto grass and sewn with polished natural hemp string.

Diameter 28.5 cm
Height 7 cm

Photo:
Huevera

This basket was handwoven to the approximate size of four chicken eggs. It was woven from esparto grass and sewn with polished natural hemp string.

Length 20 cm
Height 7 cm

Photo: © Vera de Arriba
Kántharos. Alusiones al cántaro griego

This elegant woven basket is part of Balikypopoy’s Allusions To series that celebrates the notion of creating slight visual confusion through evocations of objects with similar designs. This basket, its form drawn from that of a Greek jug, was made using braided esparto grass and sewn with polished natural hemp string.

Diameter 20 cm
Height 20 cm

Photo: © Vera de Arriba
Torus

In geometry, a torus is the surface of revolution of a three-dimensional curve that results from spinning a circle around an axis that is on the same plane as the circle. This piece was created with braided esparto grass and sewn with polished natural hemp string.

Diameter 29 cm
Height 7 cm

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