PONTO E TRAMA

In the parish of Branca, in Coruche, Susana Cereja developed a co-creative artistic residency that culminated in a tapestry produced with 21 members of the local community over ten days of intensive work and exchange. The project grew from the territory itself. Green, pink and beige tones echo the heather fields of the Coruche landscape, while the Ribeira de Lavre — geographically pointing towards Arraiolos — became an important reference in the development of the work. Experiments with water, soap and India ink informed the drawing later translated into tapestry. Beige evokes wheat and rice, while words shared between the artist and participants were painted over the wool. The work also incorporates canudos, traditional harvest tools used to protect the fingers during manual labour. Its form follows the territory that served as the starting point for the project. By bringing the Arraiolos stitch into a collaborative process, the residency connects heritage, place and community through contemporary artistic practice.