In the decoration of a rustic style environment, it is not just a question of choosing handcrafted decorative arts with natural materials such as wood and vegetable fibers , but bringing to the space pieces that support the greatness of a culture, whose art tells our story, in the simplicity of their composition.
The Brazilian Indians of the Baniwa ethnic group find in handicrafts a powerful instrument of cultural identity and a symbol of resistance, like most indigenous arts around the world. The peculiar style of the graphics is maintained from generation to generation, illustrating both its traditional utilitarian objects and the more complex artistic productions with arumã braiding for decoration , such as decorated basketwork , and small reforested wood furniture .
Indigenous handicraft incorporates cultural and environmental values into rustic decor.
The Baniwa culture is located on the triple border between Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela, on the tributaries of the Içana and Negro rivers, where the millenary art of the Aruak -speaking Indians resists, taught by the ancestral Indians to the men of the tribe who prepare and dye the arumã fibers. and transpose the graphics into peculiar braids to transform the decoration .
The art of arumã basket weaving for commercial purposes began to be made to order, respecting traditions and sustainable production, in 1993, but it was only in 1998 that commercialization became possible under the direct management of Baniwa associations in order to provide economic autonomy to the ethnicity and add cultural and environmental value to the pieces.
The graphic patterns of Baniwa basketry were marked by the ancestors on the stones as petroglyphs and are inlaid on the arumã baskets in black (obtained from macerated embaúba charcoal or soot from ceramic kilns) and/or in red (from dyed seeds such as annatto). according to the weave of the natural fiber that structures urutus ( oolódas , large baskets), hampers (waláya, shallow baskets), pitchers ( kaxadádali , potbellied vases) and sieves ( dopítsi , baskets with spaced wefts).
Arumã braids are utilitarian items in the Baniwa culture that have become decorative arts.
The makapóko waláya (big basket) is an important piece in the Baniwa initiation rituals , the moment when the boys learn to weave the baskets, whose perfection in finishing marks the transition to adult life. The distinctive aesthetic of this Baniwa hamper favors the exploration of possibilities in rustic decor , in addition to making details such as indigenous graphics the focal point of the environment, valuing the history and essence of the piece.
The kaxadáli (“bellied” jar), in turn, is the one that best integrates indigenous art with modern elements of interior decoration . Traditionally used as an organizing basket , the Baniwa natural fiber vase has a shape inspired by the universe, according to the cosmology of the indigenous tribe. For commercialization, large vases were developed that made the use in the environment more versatile as an umbrella holder or cachepot .
The Baniwa jug stands out with the original aesthetic of the potbellied shape ( kaxadádali ).
Although Baniwa baskets are the best-known indigenous arts of the ethnic group, also encompassing utilitarian objects such as the tipi ( tirolípi ), the girl catch ( inhaimii-tirolípi ), the paneiro ( dzawithída ) and the beiju ( péethe ), other artistic productions are activities that enhanced cultural memory such as ceramics and wood art with the production of small furniture .
Inspired by the Kumurõ ( Tukano bench ) or creatively stylized, the handmade stools are carved in one piece and hand painted with annatto and graphics representing the graphic syllables that design the basketwork . Each graphic pattern has a Baniwa name and particular meanings depending on the clan.
The combination of these ethnic patterns with the rustic sculpture of the wooden bench make it a unique piece of furniture to customize the environment with the essence of the Baniwa indigenous culture and add innovative and exclusive features to the decoration.
Handmade stool made by Baniwa Indians inspired by the Tukano Kumurõ bench.
The simple and warm aesthetic accentuated by the structure of materials of natural origin arranged in pieces enriched with ethnic designs make Baniwa art a surprising set to make you feel welcome in the environment. Get inspired by the best of indigenous culture in our online store !
Namaste!
Milene Sousa - Art & Tune
