It was a summer episode of the Spanish radio program A vivir que son dos días, featuring artist Ximena Maier and art historian Alfonso Pleguezuelo, that sent me down a fascinating rabbit hole, into the history, function, and cultural poetry of tiles. Delft-inspired tiles by Ximena Maier A Spanish Beginning: From Al-Andalus to Talavera The […] Read more…
Long before Instagram feeds and instant snapshots, summer memories arrived home in tangible form: a ship painting in a gilt frame, a seashell necklace from a boardwalk shop, a pressed flower between the pages of a book. In the 18th and 19th centuries, sailors brought back shell-encrusted “valentines” from Caribbean ports, whalers sketched or stamped […] Read more…
If you see me in summer, chances are—most likely—I’ll be carrying a fan in my bag or hand. In Spain, the fan is more than just an accessory; it’s part of our cultural identity. Growing up, I watched the ladies around me carrying all summer long. I remember being mesmerised by the rhythmic movements, and […] Read more…