Today we’d like to introduce you to Paty Vilo.
Hi Paty, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I have worked with wood, clay and various materials such as assemblages of stones, branches, photos, and foliage. I have painted and taken many photos, but it is mainly sculpture that I enjoy. I have lived in Mexico for almost 15 years, and it was there in Guadalajara that I started to work in cultural management with the organization of a festival: “Puertas abiertas al Arte.” This festival brought together more than 150 artists spread over the historic city centre.
During this festival, I met a Mexican artist: Monica Leyva, who inspired me to experiment with textile in my artwork.
I never stopped…
Back in France in 2005, I realized the strong presence of textiles in contemporary art. So, I gradually made my casting to set up a collective of textile artists which was done at the end of 2010
And that’s how I created the collective: Fiber Art Fever! which started with a first exhibition in Mexico and then in France.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Clearly no… In Mexico, it was not easy to convince the artists and then the local authorities and the companies to sponsor us. But the festival has been quickly very successful.
Then in France, I didn’t know the contemporary textile world at all. At the beginning I made some casting errors. Little by little, it got better. But I still have the feeling that I’m behind in what I want to show. And then there are a lot of prejudices about textile work in art, even though it is becoming more and more fashionable! Especially because we are mostly women artists and: woman + embroidery = housewife hobby
For both experiences, I find it very difficult that the artists are also involved in the general organization. It’s being alone to work for others that is the most burdensome.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a visual artist and I work mainly with textiles. That is why I have set up an international group of artists who work in a privileged way with textile fibres or their techniques: Fiber Art Fever! Since 2011, the group has been evolving between 40 and 60 artists each year. Very soon we will change the formula and propose a platform where artists can create their own website. I can’t wait to see it online in early spring! I’m really proud of this group, isn’t so easy to work with so many artists.
On a more personal level as an artist, I work in various directions but always with textiles.
Currently I am creating digital knitting pictures. I make knitting pictures from photos processed by various software so that one pixel equals one stitch. I entrust this image to a home knitting machine by a hacker process. Then I intervene again with embroidery on the knitting or with other textile techniques. I attach great importance to the frame, often created in crocheted wool or wool felt.
I mainly represent portraits but also trees.
On the other hand, I also take pictures, after embroidery interventions, on flowers and leaves. I like this work very much.
I also use potatoes and other non-putrescible vegetables, which I allow to sprout and dehydrate until there is no flesh left inside. This then creates mini sculptures which are placed as if in a precious casket in porcelain pieces created by the artist Lucy Morrow. A textile piece forms the link between the porcelain and the tuber. It’s a beautiful collaboration!
On the whole, I am a very creative artist, always searching and curious to learn new techniques.
What are your plans for the future?
The big change will be in Abril with the new platform for Fiber Art Fever!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fiberartfever.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fiberartfever/ | https://www.instagram.com/patyvilo2/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fiberartfever
- Other: https://patyvilo.blogspot.com/
Image Credits
Thierry Becouarn
