Mercedes, an artist trained in Fine Arts, discovered her true calling in textile art after fifteen years of painting on canvas. Since 2018, she has been developing her project “Sedes by MPR,” capturing motifs from nature on linen and cotton. Each of her pieces is unique and handmade.
Mercedes, you began your career as a landscape and realist scene painter. What memories do you have of that early period with the traditional canvas?
“It was a period of learning and a lot of hard work for each exhibition, painting 10 to 12 hours a day, but really enjoying seeing the results. It was also very enriching to be able to devote myself to my vocation.”
When did you discover that your path would lead you toward applied art, especially painting on linen and fabrics?
“After a few years of a pause in my career to devote myself to my family, I embarked on a new path painting on porcelain, something that had always attracted me just like the great painters such as Picasso did in their ceramic creations. It was through painting on porcelain that I discovered I wanted to dedicate myself to decorative art, seeking to expand my painting into tablecloths, curtains, or ceilings. Large-scale works meant to envelop the environment. I’m fascinated by craftsmanship and I believe it’s important to protect and promote local talent in our country, and I’m proud to be a part of that through Homofaber.”
Your works convey a strong connection to nature. What do you find in it that inspires you so much?
“During that ten‑year break I lived deeply in the countryside, internalizing a lot of information in my search, and when I began to paint, it was an explosion of color, forms, movement… I have a great connection with nature; for me it signifies the beauty, balance, and warmth of Creation that God gives us.”
Your pieces convey calm, harmony, and a kind of “domesticated nature.” What message would you like someone living with your work to take away?
“The best message is to enjoy beauty and aesthetics so that it enriches us.”
Which artist, past or present, have influenced you most along the way?
“There are many artists who have influenced me, such as Velázquez, Cezanne, Morandi, Picasso, Brancusi, Guayasamín… And of course in decorative arts, William Morris was a great inspiration.”
Can you tell us your favorite hotel and the last book you’ve read?
“Favorite hotel: Villa Mabrouka in Tangier.
Last book: A Cuerpo de Virrey by Joaquín Santaella, about his journey through Peru with Mario Vargas Llosa, very good!”
And finally, how do you imagine your favorite Cayumas?
“My favorite Cayumas would be in indigo green, a color I use in my paintings and I love, contrasted with a trim in another color like yellow, orange, or blue…”
