The colorful strolls of Margaux Carpentier for Tienda Esquipulas.
Tienda Esquipulas and Margaux Carpentier, at the crossroads of the distance.
Welcome to the casa!
The poetry of objects and traditions of Mexico and Guatemala combines the instinctive creativity of a painter and illustrator speaking through shimmering polychrome worlds. Joy, sweetness and mischief are born in cardboard pieces arranged in such a way as to create, for Maison et Objet, a small kitsch and colorful building, in which visitors can stroll. A true temple dedicated to Central American folk culture where jaguars, little good men and cows would babble with birds and icons in the shadow of some cacti, hearts and flowers, it is entirely handmade, just like the artifacts that he introduces.
Decorative stand design inspired by traditional Guatemalan masks – By Margaux Carpentier
Natural materials.
The choice of cardboard as the main material strengthens the idea of eco-responsibility put forward by the brand Tienda Esquipulas who is committed to the use of recycled materials and comply with environmental standards to minimize the carbon footprint and respect, beyond tradition, a conscientious and sustainable know-how.
From the cabinet of curiosities.
Inside, each object evokes a legend, a story, a memory. Small bits elsewhere in a cottage between two worlds, that of yesteryear, dream and chimeras against that of the present, tangible and practical. Crafts that we discover between objects of devotion, ex-votos, hassle dolls or accessories (sewing patches, tote bags, kits …) and decorative items (candles, oilcloths, vases …) transports us to other worlds, where the colors and figures of the body work without timidity, where the Kitsch invites himself nonchalantly to his neighbor Aesthetics.
Women in the spotlight.
Like Frida Kahlo, World Icon of Art in Mexico, who once said, “I paint flowers so they do not die“, the world of embellished colors, legendary heroes and ancient myths that we find in Tienda Esquipulas participates in the transmission (and therefore, in memory) of miles of voices of craftsmen. In addition, Tienda Esquipulas promotes short circuits and engages with women’s craft cooperatives to support women’s empowerment in Central America. A bias that emphasizes the will of its creator, Ana Carrillo, to protect the culture of his homeland, Guatemala while investing humanly with his peers.
On the thread of time.
Tienda is a small shop that can be found everywhere in Latin America; Esquipulas is a city in Guatemala that houses a basilica in which is found a crucifix deemed miraculous and revered by thousands of pilgrims each year. Tienda Esquipulas is the link between yesterday and today, between the old and the new world, between creators, values and collectors of curiosities. Born there, these objects, cultural mirrors and curious visitors, while visiting our homes, perpetuate the traditions of Mexico and Guatemala while adorning our interiors. By infusing them with a perky and glittering aura, they ensure a future beyond the invisible borders and the timeless certainties. K.G