- Art & Design
Cindy Lilen is originally from Patagonia but has been living in London for seven years now. Yet it is her homeland that is reflected in her artworks. She finds it important to be connected with nature and asked herself what is really essential in our lives. She reconnected with her roots and found answers to her questions in South American textile communities.
Cindy Lilen Studio is a textile lighting and decoration studio that creates bespoke jewellery for interiors with an emphasis on original design and craftsmanship. The aim is to transform interiors into an oasis for busy lives and to give people a sense of comfort. The studio creates bespoke pieces based on a careful study of her clients and the needs of their spaces. Mainly materials from Cindy's own region are used, but sometimes also from other places where nature provides powerful materials to work with. She also works with craftsmen from different countries and tries to understand what lies behind their techniques. She also tries to learn the language of their craft, which is full of culture, identity and meaning.
The latest collection is called Aimé, which means reddish sunset. This is the studio's first large-scale sculptural collection and will be shown at Clerkenwell Design Week in May this year. The collection consists of three unique, hand-knotted textile lamps that weave together Mapuche stories, sounds and landscapes. Through different textile techniques, this collection honours the people who shaped the Patagonian identity and understood how to talk to nature. 
The studio creates bespoke pieces based on a careful study of her clients and the needs of their spaces.
In addition to sustainability, raw materials produced according to the logic of natural cycles are the protagonists of this collection. Thanks to pure Patagonian merino wool, cotton fibres and wood, the subjects are shaped to convey the value of artisanal hands. They also emphasise the beauty of each material. Moreover, the creations are accompanied by a meticulous analysis of the influence of light on people's moods, to guarantee the perfect effect of each piece.
With this collection, Cindy reintroduces us to the Patagonian culture and will create a feeling of reassurance in the spaces where the collection will end up. 
Photography by Eric Oliveira