Collection: 'Actions and Reflections' - Pocho Guimaraes

Plácido ‘Pocho’ Guimaraes (Malabo – Equatorial Guinea, 1951) currently lives in Madrid, Spain and carries on the tradition of Equatorial Guinean textile craft practice that has been passed down from generation to generation in local communities and Bubi culture. By contemporising these traditions he also uses dance, symbols and experiences to enrich his current works, reconnecting with his cultural and family roots. Guimaraes is a disciple of Josep Grau-Garriga and uses the high heddle technique rather than traditional looms. The unusual materials he incorporates into his work are fabrics of African origin; old newspapers and waste materials, as well as objects found in the cities and natural environments around Malabo and Madrid. These found, residual objects and elements are loaded with personal or family meanings and each of the works he produces refers to a specific theme and reality of his immediate environment: his political dissidence, family customs and rituals. Touch and the tactile nature of his work are highly important elements to help narrate the personal stories of Bubi culture, so relevant to his history.