Installation
2024
2024
Limestone is abundant in the landscape of the White Villages in southern Spain. Its use as whitewash to purify the façades of houses and cemeteries was once an annual ritual in the threshold between the public and private, traditionally performed by women. As this custom fades, the memorial installation shines a light on limewashing as a form of domestic work and a mourning ritual, evidencing the gendered division of labour. In the documentary film, the material journey of limestone -extraction, burning, slaking- serves as the running thread and reveals stories from times of epidemics and war to moments of care and conviviality amongst neighbours.
Encalar aims to bridge the gap between past and future, fostering dialogue on how design can act as a conduit for the preservation of intangible cultural practices as future heritage, while emancipating them from outdated gender roles. Ultimately, the installation highlights the value of the oral traditions and hands that maintain our built environments.
The installation was exhibited during Dutch Design Week 2024 at DeFabriek. (Eindhoven, Netherlands)
The documentary film premiered at LAB-1 cinema (Eindhoven, Netherlands) on the opening night of Melted Film Festival, curated by Geo-Frames x Future Number Five