Junça da Beselga Mask

Junça craftsmanship is an iconic artisanal technique linked to Beselga, a small district within the municipality of Penedono. This tradition was born as an economic supplement to local agricultural production. The plant, which is the main element of handcrafted products, grows abundantly and spontaneously in the areas surrounding the hamlet. The fiber is harvested exclusively by hand, left to dry and then woven to create various types of products.  Using this technique, artisan Catarina Martins designs and creates not only utilities, but also decorative masks by translating these traditional crafts with contemporary aesthetics. These artifacts are then enhanced and disseminated through the 'Origem Comum' platform, a reality that aims to highlight traditional arts and crafts related to rural areas. They do so through design, research, sales and educational activities. The project aims to emphasize how vernacular knowledge is useful in contributing to a balance between human activities and environmental conditions. Artisanal production becomes a critical activity that promotes equal and sustainable consumption, opposing the automated mass production processes, enhancing, on the other hand, the local cultural identity.