Women's oversized crew-neck T-shirt - AMARAUNA

AMARAUNA means spiderweb in Basque. I was looking for a title for this new creation based on the figure of MARI, a character from Basque mythology. She is the mother “goddess” of EVERYTHING (AMA means MOTHER in Basque). A happy coincidence!

After working on AMALUR (MOTHER EARTH), I was eager to explore the symbolism of this other entity, about which I knew little but which felt familiar to me.

There was also a desire to create a visual centered on the figure of woman, who is central to Basque society.

While the men left for months at a time to hunt whales across the oceans, the women managed the life of the homes, fields, and villages by weaving a protective web to preserve their families and the life of their land. This led to the sadly notorious witchcraft trials.

MARI’s disciples are the SORGINAK (the WITCHES), who celebrated her in caves during the AKELARRE gatherings.

According to legend, MARI lives in the hidden, underground world, appearing as she emerges from a cave.

I chose to depict the shape of the HARPEKO SAINDUA sanctuary (the cave of the sweating saint) in Bidarray. At the back of this cavity, a distinctive anthropomorphic stalagmite inspires legends and personal interpretations.

If the mother of all things appears here, I filled my linework with small drawings that are both intuitive and focused on depicting elements and characters characteristic of Basque mythology and nature.

By duplicating my drawing several times, a cross-shaped form with a baroque, and therefore rather pagan, appearance emerged to create the central and main motif.

And the spiderweb emerged as an obvious choice.

Perpetual renewal, nature’s wonder, a symbol of protective motherhood …

At the same time, while immersing myself in personal readings about the work of Louise Bourgeois, my unconscious did its work, leading this creation—and this word—to impose itself. I find it very beautiful!