Prehistoric meets postmodern: New designs from Tanya Aguiñiga
The idea for Tanya Aguiñiga’s abstracted animals came from the artist’s residency in Chiapas, Mexico, where Mayan women taught her how to make textiles using giant “backstrap” looms affixed to poles or trees. The Mayan artisans’ tiny animal figurines inspired Aguiñiga to create her giant creatures as an hommage. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
“I really liked the idea of abstracting the shapes but still making them functional as couches and stools,” arist Tanya Aguiñiga said. You can sit on a piece named Sloth, pictured here, but your first impulse might be to hug it. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
The artist stands next to her Giraffe at JH Chen in Hollywood. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
Tanya Aguiñiga’s Paper Clip chairs are stretched with supple vegetable-dyed leather and rope that’s gathered into patterns with the same nylon fasteners used to build kites and fishing nets. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
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The JF Chen also includes Tanya Aguiñiga’s jewelry, some of the artist’s latest experiments with rope. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
Soft Rocks on display at JF Chen helped to show Tanya Aguiñiga’s evolution during the last decade. (Ann Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
Tanya Aguiñiga’s felted Eames chairs recently turned up in our profile of the Encino home of Peter and Shannon Loughrey, the couple behind Los Angeles Modern Auctions. Set in 1970s architecture and complemented by an Arthur Espenet dining table Verner Panton light light, Aguiñiga’s bridge eras and styles. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
