We spoke to winner of the Kate Derum & Irene Davies International Tapestry Awards People's Choice Award – Yunuen Perez.

Yunuen, you won the People's Choice Award with an avalanche of votes. Tell us more about your beautiful little tapestry.

“At Home” started as an exploration of my journey with the medium. I have been weaving for almost ten years now, first as an autodidact and then taking in-person and online classes. For almost a decade, I have tried to convey a little piece of my story through tapestry, inspired by my Mexican heritage, the colours and patterns of my culture, and elements that connect me with my hometown and family. But since the pandemic, I have struggled to connect with the intent of my work. I feel lost, mainly because I was one of those 70 thousand stranded Australians. Upon reflection, my 2024 Kate Derum Award entry represents my journey back home.

Why do you think it captured the public imagination so strongly?

The tapestry is joyful, and the setting feels like a happy place. A friend told me it reminded her of an Australian house. It is colourful and has different stitches on such a small surface, so it is eclectic, but somehow, it makes sense and is non-apologetic in trying to be perfect. With everything happening in the world right now, I guess my tapestry shared a bit of happiness and hope for a future where everyone has a safe space to shelter and a place to return to after a long day. I know many people from around the world voted for my tapestry in the People's Choice Award category. In a way, I want to think that through my work as an artist, producer, and curator in Mexico, Australia, and the UK, I have connected with hundreds of people and have created a beautiful community of friends, creatives and peers championing each other when we need it. This was my turn.

How long have you been a weaver, and when did you start?

I started in 2015, learning on my own and following very complex instructions I found in books at Melbourne’s City Library. I also took a two-hour crash course at The Homework in Brunswick, but I don’t think the place exists anymore. I attended every ATW showing class, where the incredible weavers introduced me to the basics. The first years were challenging, as I was trying to learn how to weave while designing and making pieces. There were a lot of tests and errors, but one day, it all made sense. Then, during COVID, a fabulous weaver based in Chile opened courses online as she couldn’t teach her in-person classes anymore. I learned so much from her; my technique became a strength, not something I doubted.

Are you still weaving? What are your ambitions for your weaving work?

I currently live in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in the North East of England, and after a whole year of waiting for my things to arrive from Melbourne and unpacking my studio, I have finally managed to set it up. It just needs to feel more cozy, and I need to find my rhythm in it. I work part-time as a programme manager, so it isn't easy to find time to weave, but this award has motivated me to prioritise it as it used to. My ambition is to dig deeper into the world of this little house and explore how it could become a village or a city. I am also interested in 3D weaving, but it is early stages.

What would you say to home weavers around the world to inspire them?

Look inside your story. Don’t try to copy or replicate other weavers’ work because your work will not be honest and true to your story.

More about the awards