Migration
Nodus Rug, 2011
Eighteenth century Rococo decors of romantic roses and perfectly symmetrical leaves still exist today, made by traditional needlepoint1 techniques that force nature into man’s image.
As a reaction to this idealized representation of nature, Formafantasma design a collection of three rugs inspired by the work of ninteenth century ornithologist John James Audubon, famous for his wonderfully detailed drawings of birds. On the final objects, instead of minuscule and geometric flowers, three gigantic birds seem to be trapped at the moment, flying on the surface of the rugs. The carpets are composed as out – of – scale garments, finished with wooden buttons as a reference to the refined needlepoint technique used both in tapestry and to embroider clothes.
With Migration, Formafantasma suggests a new type of romanticism, wild and liberating, expressing the most ancient of human desires: to migrate towards the new and unknown, while relaxing upon a carpet of beautifully embroidered feathers. Each of the three rugs from the migration collection was produced entirely by hand in Portugal with an average embroidery time of one month.
