Chaguar

The Wichi tribes are natives from El Gran Chaco, in Northern Argentina. Art with CHAGUAR is an activity notably done by Wichi women. Once a year, in small groups, they venture into the mountain to reap the plant -they know very well where to find it-. They then defibrillate it, yarn it, dye it, and knit it. From the Chaguaral, they only choose those plants that have the required quality and seize they are looking for. They take their thorns out and they peel them, splitting their fibers. The CHAGUAR fibres are then crushed and soaked in water multiple times. They are then dried out in the Sun for one or two days.

The yarn is made by joining several strands, twisting them with a quick movement with the hands on their thighs, which are covered in ashes. The yarned fiber is then dyed with different colors (black, brown, gray, and red are the most common), prepared over the base made of plants in the mountain.

The Wichis knit their “Yicas”, in the shape of tight nets, working them with a big wooden needle, two sticks stuck on the ground, and a tense thread between them.

Having gifted us beautiful pieces of work, each one unique, special, and irrepetible. The typical drawings represent the different animals that dwell in the mountain.