Guatemala, Multicolores, “When the Birds Awaken”

“When the Birds Awaken” Large Rug by Ramona Cristina Tumax 

This hand-hooked rug was designed and crafted by Ramona Cristina Tumax, member of the Totonicapán rug-hooking group. Ramona lives in Totonicapán, a rural K’iché Maya community in the highlands of Guatemala. 

Ramona describes her inspiration for this design: “This design is inspired by the special moment each morning where rst light strikes the hillside where I live and the birds awaken, greeting the morning with their song.” The artists of Multicolores began learning the rug-hooking technique in 2011. Rug-hooking is a traditional folk art not native to Guatemala. In their design process, artists blend ancestral motifs drawn from backstrap weavings, inspiration from the natural world, and their own imagination. The resulting textile artworks evoke both their Maya heritage and their contemporary, individual creative voice. This piece is unique and the design is entirely the result of the artist's creative vision.

Dimensions: 61cm x 122cm 

Fibre: This rug is made from recycled secondhand clothing, known in Guatemala as 'paca,' on hand-woven cotton base cloth, with a hand-stitched binding. This rug was made using 40-45 recycled garments, which are washed and cut into strips before being incorporated in the design. Material is not dyed during the making process. Recycled materials retain their original color. 

This rug takes approximately 1 month to complete. 

Stock level: 1 (one-of-a-kind item)