WOUNAAN EXHIBIT- Werregue Woven Sculptures
Wounaan: The Artistry of Weaving Sculptures
Helecho Collective recently showcased an exhibition in the heart of Tribeca, bringing to New York City a body of work rarely seen outside of Colombia. Presenting this exhibition in New York felt especially meaningful. As a global nexus for culture, art, design, and fashion, the city offers a vital platform for stories rooted in craft, sustainability, and cultural heritage; values deeply shared across communities here. The Wounaan tradition embodies all three.
This exhibition, Wounaan: The Artistry of Weaving Sculptures, celebrates the rich weaving practices of the Wounaan people from Colombia’s Pacific coast. Using ancestral techniques passed down through generations, artisans transform the werregue palm into sculptural forms of extraordinary precision and beauty. Each fiber is carefully harvested and naturally dyed, then coiled slowly, often over months or even years, into vessels that feel both timeless and alive.
The resulting works reflect pre-Columbian imagery, rainforest symbolism, and stories embedded in daily life along the Pacific coast. More than functional objects, these sculptures carry identity, resilience, and a profound connection to land. They invite viewers to look beyond form and into a living tradition, one that continues to evolve while honoring its roots.
By bringing this work to Tribeca, Helecho Collective aimed to create space for dialogue around the importance of preserving Indigenous knowledge systems and recognizing craft as fine art. These pieces stand as powerful reminders that sustainability is not a trend, but a way of life practiced for centuries.
Wounaan Exhibit:
The exhibition proudly featured works by Wounaan artisans whose mastery and dedication sustain this tradition:
- Noelia Ismare and Alirio Tascón
- Arcenio Moya
- Crucelina Chocó Opuay
- Karina Tascón
Each artist brings their own visual language to the medium, while remaining deeply connected to collective knowledge and shared cultural memory. Their sculptures are not only works of art, but vessels of history, care, and continuity.
Helecho Collective is honored to amplify these voices and to share the artistry of the Wounaan people with a wider audience. This showcase stands as an invitation to slow down, to look closely, and to recognize the enduring power of handmade work rooted in place and tradition.
