Interview
Antonio Adauta
1 Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your design background.
I am self-taught master artisan with 32 years career.
2 What made you become/why did you choose to become a designer/artist?
Crafts found me when I was studying Electrical Engineering in Coimbra.
3 Tell us more about your business/company, job profile, and what you do.
I adapt the patterns from the Roman mosaics of Conimbriga to handcraft Arraiolos stitch framed handmade embroidery.
4 Tell us about your design process.
Firstly, trough “on site” observation I selected the mosaics and made a chromatic study with the propose to reproduce as faithful as possible the real colors of the mosaics. Secondly, based on photos and posters of the chosen mosaics- I made the master patterns of which one making possible to be worked in Arraiolos stitch. Finally, I handcraft them, executing, the embroidery with the delicate task of reproducing stitch working resembling as faithful the tesserae of the original mosaics.
5 Do you think your country and its cultural heritage has an impact on your design process?
Obviously. I worl the Roman mosaics of Conimbriga and the Arraiolos stitch both from our cultural heritage.
6 Congratulations! As the winner of the 2023 MUSE Design Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?
It is the international recognition of the quality of my 32 years work.
7 Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2023 MUSE Design Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
The work is called CAOS – Chaos. There are no symmetrical axes in the body. It looks like the pieces were thrown out blindly. I chose it because it was different from the rest of my pieces.
8 What was the biggest challenge with this project?
To build the master pattern from my head. No computers.
9 How has winning an Award developed your practice/career?
It is early yet. But is one more Award to my Curriculum …
10 What are your top three (3) favorite things about our industry?
My Industry is Handcraft. My favourite things are: I work alone, I can mix the mosaics patterns from the II century, the Arraiolos Stitch from the IV century and create a XXI century product. I am unique in my industry.
11 What makes your country specifically, unique in the design industry?
In Portugal the handcraft is still very alive. Not only the rural and religious aspect but new forms handcraft like mine.
12 If you were a student entering this industry or an aspiring MUSE Design Awards submitter, what advice would you give them?
Let the Muses inspired you.
13 What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
Keep trying and trying and keep …
14 Which THREE (3) friends/peers would you nominate to participate in the next MUSE Design Awards?
Julien Feller.
15 Do you have anything else you would like to add to the interview?
Thank you for existing. For supporting and showing our work.
