Albufeira artist Vanessa Barragão created a stunning tapestry piece calling attention to endangered corals which will remain on display at the UN head office in New York permanently.
A stunning piece of tapestry created by renowned Algarve textile artist Vanessa Barragão has been donated by the Portuguese government to the United Nations, which will display it at its head office in New York permanently.
The piece, entitled ‘Living Coral’ (Coral Vivo), aims to be a beacon of “hope” for the preservation of corals and the reversal of climate change around the world. It took two months to create using only recycled materials such as wool and lyocell and is part of a larger collection of coral-inspired pieces created by the artist.
Despite being just 31, Vanessa Barragão has already exhibited her art around the world, from the USA all the way to Shanghai. However, she admitted that being invited by the Portuguese government to donate this artwork to the UN stands out as one of her most impressive feats so far.
“It was a big surprise,” Vanessa told the Resident. “It’s one of the highlights of my career. The piece will be exhibited there permanently. It’s a privilege for me to be able to leave my mark.”
It’s no surprise that the oceans – and corals specifically – are such a strong inspiration for Vanessa’s work. She was born in Albufeira, where she spent her childhood exploring the nearby beaches and soaking in the beauty of the ocean. From an early age, Vanessa realised that she loved making things with her hands, from sandcastles to doll clothes, and shortly after starting school, she fell in love with drawing and handmade crafts.
When she turned 18, Vanessa left home to study Fashion Design at the University of Lisbon, where she completed her undergraduate and master’s degrees. During this time, she says she became “more conscious about consumption, sustainability and being more eco-friendly” in her daily routine and projects. In 2016, she moved to Porto, where she lived for nearly four years, dividing her time between working as a textile designer at an artisanal carpet factory and her own textile projects. It was during this time that she says she became aware of the “amount of waste generated by mass production”.
It was in 2020 that she decided to move back home and open her own studio, with the goal of dedicating herself fully to her own projects. With her newfound “ecological awareness”, combined with the traditional weaving methods taught by her grandmothers, she developed the beloved tapestries that she is known for today.
Her pieces attempt to draw attention to the “vulnerability of the oceans”, in particular to corals, which despite representing 25% of marine life could see their population decline by 90% by 2050.
This frightening possibility was also highlighted by António Guterres last week when Vanessa’s tapestry piece was officially donated to the UN by the Portuguese government.
“Just as the delicate yet resisting threads in this tapestry, all life on this planet is intermeshed in an intricate and co-dependent network. Coral reefs are among the most stunning habitats with greatest biodiversity and among the most vital ones on our planet,” he said. “And yet these natural wonders are facing terrible threats. Climate change and record temperatures in oceans are causing catastrophic blanching and mortality of corals”.
Meanwhile, the Portuguese government explained the reasoning behind its donation in an official statement: “With this donation, the government wishes to value Portugal’s active participation in the organisation, as well as the UN’s central role in the Ocean Agenda and building a greener future that is safer and more prosperous. At the same time, it underlines the acknowledgement of the UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s role in fighting climate change,” the statement said.
By MICHAEL BRUXO
