Infinite Weavings is a beautiful series of black and white illustrations by Argentine artist Julia Rouaux, in which art, science, and conservation merge to portray the fragility of South American biodiversity. Part of the exhibition has travelled to La Paloma, on Uruguay’s Atlantic coast, where Gaia was thrilled to be part of the opening night.
FRANCISCANA by Julia Rouaux
Julia blends scientific precision with artistic brilliance. Her digital portraits, created through a succession of points and lines at irregular intervals, symbolize the intricate, underlying, and invisible network that connects all living beings. They reflect a yearning to restore the connection with natural processes, fostering empathy for the fragile elements that make up biological networks.
In this series of endangered South American fauna, such as the small Franciscana dolphin and the elusive large fox, the Aguará Guazú, the portraits are accompanied by infographics and links to local conservation groups– not only raising awareness but also pointing people to places of action.
CIERVO DE LOS PANTANOS by Julia Rouaux
The opening night, on 14th December, was hosted at the co-working and community space of Casa del Mar, in La Paloma, blessed by a backdrop of sea, surf, and an ascending full-moon. Julia was joined by four biologists, from Mar Azul Uruguayo, Yaqupacha, Ambá, and Fauna Marina, who dedicate their energies to protecting these threatened species and the Uruguayan landscapes or seascapes they are part of. They gave moving testimony of how emotional disconnection from the natural environment is one of the main causes of the current socio-environmental degradation, and the importance of connecting art, science and citizen action for Uruguay’s biodiversity.
Another voice for the need to establish new strategies to reconnect with biodiversity through art and environmental education, came from award-winning editorial Amanuense, who talked about the e’a! festival (e’a! is a Guaraní word for ‘Amazement’) held in Uruguay’s Colonia de Sacramento, at which Julia was one of this year’s invited illustrators.
SARDA by Julia Rouaux
Aside from the visual delight for visitors to Casa del Mar, the exhibition challenges the viewer, persuading them to recognize themselves as an integral part of a web that must be healed, positioning them as an active participant rather than a mere observer.
Infinite Weavings is not just an exhibition—it is a call to action, where every stroke serves as a reminder of our capacity to weave a different story.
“Creation is a perfect weave. Everything in it has its proportion and correspondence. Everything is intertwined in an infinite web that not even my beloved weavers of the south could replicate. Woe to us if we forget that we are a loom. It doesn’t matter where the thread is cut; from there, Misáianes will begin to pull until the landscape unravels.”
—Liliana Bodoc, The Days of the Deer, 2000
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- AGUARÁ GUAZÚ by Julia Rouaux
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- CABALLITO DE MAR by Julia Rouaux
Julia Rouaux has a PhD in Natural Sciences and a degree in biology. She has honed her craft in illustration, spanning traditional and digital techniques, through specialized training in Argentina, Mexico, and Portugal. She is a proud member of Illustraciencia (Spain) and the Colectivo de Ilustradores de la Ciencia y la Naturaleza de México (CICYNMX), and has been honoured in Argentina by the Lahille Award for Artistic Excellence in Natural Sciences. Her work bridges science, education, and naturalist art. Take a closer look at Julia’s exhibitions and workshops, and re-awaken your inner artist – click here.
The e’a! festival, in Colonia, was created by Amanuence editorial. It proposes illustration and reading as bridges for the promotion of creativity, the enjoyment of art and professional development. Click here to find out more.