The intersection of personal history and collective memory often finds its most poignant expression in art that refuses to be confined to a single medium. For Tatiana Donoso, a Chilean-born artist based in Barcelona, this expression manifests as a delicate weave of photography, embroidery, and poetry, transforming archival fragments into living narratives.
Donoso’s work is deeply rooted in the experience of displacement and the subsequent reconstruction of identity. Born in Chile, she grew up in Barcelona after her family fled the military coup led by Augusto Pinochet, a trajectory that informs her lifelong preoccupation with archives, memory, and the silent histories of those left behind.
Currently, Donoso is preparing for a specialized residency in Olot, scheduled from May 26 to May 30, 2025, where she will advance her latest project, “Poètiques tèxtils. Una costura feta de paraules” (Textile Poetics: A Seam Made from Words). This project serves as a bridge between documentary poetry and the oral memories of women within the textile industry, blending historical research with poetic fiction.
From Photography to Multidisciplinary Memory
Donoso began her professional journey in photography, a field in which she worked for over a decade. Her early career was marked by contributions to magazines and Sunday supplements, as well as the development of art projects supported by prestigious grants. These included the Fotopres’99 grant from La Caixa and a Generación 2005 grant from Caja Madrid via Faber Llull.
After a period dedicated to raising her daughters, Donoso returned to her artistic practice with a broadened scope. She began integrating embroidery, poetry, and family archives into her work, moving beyond the lens to create tactile, layered installations. This evolution led to the creation of several key projects, including “Madre Nebulosa,” “Mi segundo nombre es Soledad,” and “Un álbum familiar de cures.” These works have been exhibited across various venues in Barcelona, including the BCN Photographic Archive, the Maritime Museum, and Can Basté, as well as other spaces within the Network of Civic Centres.
The Academic Foundation of an Archive Technician
Donoso’s artistic approach is bolstered by a rigorous academic background in history and heritage. Born in 1970, she holds a degree in History of Art and a Master’s in Cultural Heritage Management from the University of Barcelona (UB) according to En Residència.
This academic training translates directly into her professional life; she currently works as an archive technician specializing in photography within heritage institutions. This dual role as both a practitioner and a professional archivist allows her to navigate the technicalities of preservation whereas exploring the emotional weight of the objects and images she handles.
Exploring “Textile Poetics” and Oral History
The core of Donoso’s current research, “Poètiques tèxtils. Una costura feta de paraules,” represents a sophisticated dialogue between the material and the ephemeral. The project focuses on the oral memory of women linked to the textile world, treating their lived experiences as a form of documentary poetry.
To build this narrative, Donoso employs a multidisciplinary research strategy that spans several fields:
- Textile Archaeology: Examining the physical remains of fabric and clothing to uncover lost stories.
- Botany: Researching the natural origins of fibers and dyes.
- Industrial History: Analyzing the impact of the textile industry on the social fabric of the community.
By putting this research into dialogue with poetic fiction, Donoso explores the “possible memory” of work tools and fabrics, suggesting that objects themselves hold echoes of the people who used them. This practice emphasizes that art is never a solitary act but a collaborative process that engages with both contemporary peers and the generations that preceded them.
Institutional Recognition and Future Directions
The consistency and depth of Donoso’s work have earned her significant institutional support in recent years. She has been the recipient of the Temporal 2023 grant and the BCN Crea 2023 grant, both awarded by the Institut de Cultura de Barcelona (ICUB). She was awarded the SCAN Tarragona Archive Residency grant and participated in the fifth Lluerna Festival at the Miró Foundation via Faber Llull.
These grants highlight the growing recognition of her ability to synthesize archival precision with artistic sensitivity, positioning her as a significant voice in the contemporary Barcelona art scene.
Key Project Summary
| Project Name | Key Elements | Thematic Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Poètiques tèxtils | Documentary poetry, Botany, Archaeology | Oral memory of women in textiles |
| Madre Nebulosa | Embroidery, Family Archives | Maternal and ancestral memory |
| Mi segundo nombre es Soledad | Archives, Poetry | Identity and solitude |
| Un álbum familiar de cures | Photography, Archives | Family care and healing |
The next confirmed milestone for Donoso is her collective residency in Olot, which will take place from Monday, May 26, 2025, to Friday, May 30, 2025, where she will further refine the “Textile Poetics” project.
World Today Journal encourages readers to share their thoughts on the role of art in preserving oral histories in the comments below.
Keep reading