Essence, Memory and Transformation
Anyi Ballesteros with Pajarita Caucana, in collaboration with Daniela Rubio, María Alejandra Torres, and Mónica Suárez.
Artist’s country of origen: Colombia
Materials: Organic silk, coca leaves, natural dyes.
Size: Variable
Year: 2021
Line of Inquiry:
Since 2021, Anyi Ballesteros has been researching dyeing techniques using coca leaves through her project Pajarita Caucana, developed in collaboration with designers Daniela Rubio, María Alejandra Torres, and Mónica Suárez. This process led them to discover 96 natural hues derived from the plant, ranging from yellows and greens to browns and beiges.Her collection “Essence, Memory, and Transformation” consists of three shawls designed and woven by Agroarte artisans using organic silk thread dyed with coca leaves. Created collectively, these pieces evoke the history and resilience of their communities. The shawl “Renacer” (Rebirth) alludes to new narratives of the coca plant and its potential for a sustainable future; “El Alba” (Dawn) embodies the serene dawns of Cauca; and “Semilla” (Seed) represents birth, with coca sprouts emerging in soft yellow tones—the result of dyeing experiments with coca leaf and flour.
The Artist
Anyi Ballesteros
Anyi Ballesteros is a textile artisan working at the intersection of ecology, community, and ancestral craft traditions.
