Men's short-sleeve T-shirt - AMARAUNA

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

After working on AMALUR (MOTHER EARTH), I was eager to immerse myself in 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 women, who occupy a central place in Basque society.

While the men spent long months crossing the oceans to hunt whales, the women managed the life of the homes, fields, and villages, weaving a protective web to sustain their families and the life of their territory. This led to the infamous 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 form of the one at the HARPEKO SAINDUA shrine (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 everything appears here, I filled my line with small drawings that are both intuitive and focused on depicting characteristic elements and figures from Basque mythology and nature.

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

And the spider web emerged as an obvious choice.

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

At the same time, while immersing myself in personal readings about the work of Louise Bourgeois, the unconscious did its work, and this creation—and this word—naturally emerged. I think it's beautiful!