Preparing Cochineal | Ancient Craft
Preparing Cochineal, Teotitlan Del Valle, Oaxaca, Mexico, 2019
16 x 20
C-Type Print
Fuji Crystal Archive
Numbered edition of 5
Signed by the artist
The Benizaa people and cochineal insects have had a working relationship since the fifteenth century. The female insects are collected, dried, treated and crushed to produce carmine dye that can yield many shades of red. A metate, or mealing stone, is used to methodically grind dried cochineal to reveal it’s deep red treasure. A rhythmic process of grind, brush, grind until the cochineal is a fine enough powder for the dye bath.
JAMES BANNISTER
James Bannister is a documentary and editorial photographer based in the UK and working internationally.
At Dixza Rugs Organic Farm James learned about traditional natural dyeing techniques with Leonar, accompanied Celestino on his daily farm tasks and sat with Mario as he worked the loom.
‘Much of my work is made using large format for medium format cameras. The slow and laborious process of analog photography lends its self to a considered, distilled approach to image-making. I am not interested in making sensational imagery but rather, a subtle consideration, one that might encourage a commitment from the viewer to spend more time looking’
DIXZA RUGS ORGANIC FARM
The ancient way of weaving rugs in Teotitlan Del Valle, Oaxaca, is with a deep respect of the natural and spiritual world, with natural dyes and fibres, powered by muscle and firewood from renewable resources.
In this village is Dixza Rugs Organic Farm, home to an indigenous Benizaa family: Mario Bautista Martínez and Leonar Lazo González and their two sons Samuel Bautista Lazo and Celestino Bautista Lazo. The family are keeping the millenary weaving tradition alive, farming the land of their ancestors in a sustainable way and sharing the skills and knowledge of their culture through demonstrations and workshops.
UK
Unframed, delivery 3-7 working days
Custom hand built frame with anti-reflective glass, delivery 2 weeks
Europe
Unframed, delivery 7-14 working days
Custom hand built frame with anti-reflective glass, delivery 3-4 weeks
For further international shipping options please contact hello@francli.co.uk