Abuela

Antonio Pichillá's series "Qati't," also known as Abuela (Grandmother), emphasizes the importance of grandmothers in his culture. He questions, "When we talk about our apparel, there's a lot to talk about; who makes them? Who weaves them?" and says, "It's always women; our mothers are the ones who always do this work; they weave the fabrics, they braid the threads." The tradition of weaving that passes through generations, especially from women, inspired Antonio to do this series. Being the youngest brother, he was the only one who learned and continued his mom's weaving tradition. He wove threads on top of the painting until the canvas was almost invisible. The braided cords symbolize his mother's braided hair, as if the artwork personified her character. The woven textiles represent his mother's wisdom, continuing to weave the knowledge.