REDEFINING THE OXCART :: 2009

 

With this project, I wanted to redefine the cultural meaning and daily use of the traditional Costa Rican oxcart. These are usable pieces I created based on their symbols, colors, patterns, and forms. My methods were based on the collection, illustration, and creation of new patterns based on the traditional ones, to apply them to different decorative objects for use at home or the office. Every piece has a selected educational text, that references some historic and cultural facts of the oxcart.

All the materials were created in recycled wood, using transfer methods from the printed paper

to the wood.

 

CONTEXT. The traditional oxcarts in Costa Rica are aesthetically beautiful and complex. Their history and cultural meaning goes back to the 1800's when they were used as the main medium of transportation. Considered one of the most traditional symbols in the country, the oxcart can be seen today in some rural areas, and as decorative elements in patios and lobbys.