“Cloud” Ana María hernando. photo by yo mariana

The history behind textiles is fascinating as they have accompanied the chronicle of humanity for centuries as an everyday element of our lives. However, for Ana María Hernando, textiles are much more than that. For this versatile artist, textiles have been part of her life since she was a child in her beloved Argentina and today, they become the vehicle to express her emotions and turn up the volume of the sometimes-silent woman’s voice.

“a little domestic waste” sarah zapata. photo by yo mariana

The Moody Center of the Arts at Rice University brings together 21 artists, in addition to Ana María Hernando, to share their textile art in Houston with the exhibition “Narrative Threads. Fiber Art Today”. I had the opportunity to talk with Ana María Hernando at the media preview and today I share a little more about her story and the thought process behind her work.

"parallel index” Patrick quarm. photo by yo mariana

During her childhood, Ana María witnessed countless gatherings where the women in her family got together to weave and embroider textiles creating unique designs. It is there where her passion for this material and her deep admiration and faith in the strength of women were born.

Ana María leaves her native Argentina at age 26 to begin her married life in Boston and later moves to Colorado to continue her artistic creations where she is welcomed by a warm and generous community, as she describes it.

Ana María is not afraid to explore new materials as she presents her art to the world through paintings, installations, paperwork, collages, prints, woodwork, and poetry. Her relationship with each of these materials is intimate and personal, and she enjoys the challenge of pursuing their mastery to then use them as means of expression.

“confluence” nnenna okore. photo by yo mariana

“As an artist, one always lives in love with what we discover and connects with others. We are translators by receiving voices from the heart of the community and the world. That conversation with these hearts is what makes you fall in love. A feeling that fills you with life.”
Ana María Hernando

“we cannot weep without vibrating the waters” ana maría hernando. photo by yo mariana.

Ana María describes textiles as a free and flexible material that has spread the female voice through centuries by being connected to the earth and to the rhythms of human history.

In her installations “Cloud” and “We Cannot Weep Without Vibrating the Waters” she details the use of tulle as a quest to make the invisible, visible. Tulle has been related for centuries to concepts that objectify women, such as dance, costumes, or celebrations, however, through these installations, Ana María challenges society by showing the abundant tulle as another way of power.

"Being soft does not mean that it’s not powerful. This work is a tribute to the perseverance of women, to challenge a society that wants to control us, and how we can continue to move forward. I have a profound admiration and faith in the strength of women”
Ana María Hernando

Many thanks to Ana María for this conversation that left me full of inspiration, strength, and energy to start 2023 by turning up the volume of my voice and the one of so many women who persevere every day to make the invisible, visible.

ana maría hernando and mariana cano. photo by erin rolfs.

Don't miss the exhibition “Narrative Threads. Fiber Art Today” at the Moody Center of the Arts at Rice University. It's free and open to the public until May 13th. I'm sure you'll love it as much as I did.