Artist
Kanica
Laura Vargas Llanas is a Madrid-based artist working under the creative name of “Kanica”. Laura’s background was rooted in art history, training in the commercial art world before becoming a fine artist. She graduated from The American University of Paris and Christie’s Education London with a degree in History of Modern and Contemporary Art and has previously worked at Christie’s, Carpenters Workshop Gallery and various leading art institutions. It was this art historical background which led to her becoming an artist.
She says: “While studying history of art I discovered the work of Anni Albers and the weavers of the Bauhaus School, with their belief that every craft object has the potential to be art. I then discovered the work of contemporary fibre artist Sheila Hicks and I was completely drawn to her transformations of textiles into works of art. I wanted to explore those notions myself and translate them into my own vocabulary, with a focus on decorative design.”
Laura is perhaps best-known for her hand-embroidered canvases that embrace and revisit artisanal weaving techniques with a strong design aesthetic. Each embroidered piece is handcrafted in her studio using natural and ethically sourced yarns such as merino and alpaca wool, cotton and jute. She has also more recently created a collection of ceramics which were inspired by lockdown and her Spanish heritage. These “Amphoras” are terracotta vases created in collaboration with an artisan in the South of Spain, which Laura then paints - using the vessel as her canvas.
Kanica's Style
Laura often starts her creative process by taking inspiration from an object or photograph seen in an exhibition or book, or even from a piece of furniture. She then creates compositions and colour combinations in her sketchbook until she finds the correct balance. She says: “when I work on the embroidered pieces I need to think in terms of shapes and the relationship between them to create a composition, either a rhythmic or a more structured one. I always think in terms of shapes and positive and negative space. As the wool I use is naturally dyed, the colours are very rich and earthy, so I tend to play and mix the shades until I have a combination that I feel works well together.”
Her ceramics came about during the first lockdown in Spain. She abruptly found herself locked at home and ran out of canvases. She explains: “I had a couple of decorative amphoras in my terrace (something quite common in Spain, especially if you live in the south) and I decided to experiment with them and explore how I could adapt my practice into a different medium and format. These particular amphoras are called Cantaros - traditional objects used to keep, preserve or transport liquids.” After lockdown she found a local artisan to work with on a larger collection of these vessels.
“I feel that as creatives, we need to continue stepping outside of our comfort zones, pushing the definition of craftsmanship, design and art, merging disciplines and exploring different mediums to find what suits us best. During these uncertain times specially, I think it is important to be able to adapt to the environment that surrounds us, and experiment with what we have available. In this particular case, I am thrilled I had those cantaros at home!”
“The quote by artist Anni Albers, “Pure forms will never bore us”, is a consistent motto in my line of work. With every composition I seek to find a balance between rhythm and stillness, by combining texture, rudimentary shapes and colour.” - Laura Vargas Llanas
Shop by Collection
March Drop 2024
"In this new series of works entitled "Constructed Minimalism" I wanted to continue my quest of exploring how shapes interact and interplay with each other, by combining different shapes, playing with contrasting colours and intertwining wool in order to "construct" an extra visual layer so as to force the viewer to interact a little deeper with the work of art." - Kanica, Constructed Minimalism
The Christmas Collection
"'Le jardin de Matisse' is a series of hand-painted ceramic candleholders inspired by different motifs found in the artist´s work; birds, flowers, leaves. A colourful collection, with a wink to Matisse, to get you into the festive mood with candlelit dinners." - Kanica, Le Jardin de Matisse
September Drop 2023
“In this new series of works entitled “Constellations”, I wanted to create a collection inspired by artist Alexander Calder´s ‘mobiles’. My aim was to suggest a similar dynamism found in his work by embroidering curved and sculptural shapes with a subtle balance in form and colour, and just like with his miniatures, I wanted the works to feel intimate and feminine. Calder mainly used a range of primary and secondary colours in his work, I however, wanted to highlight a warm colour palette, focusing on a range of secondary and tertiary colours to highlight that subtle visual movement, and give the impression as if the shapes were suspended and moving with the flow of air.” - Kanica, Constellations
May Drop 2023
""Le Bal Géométrique - Acte II" is a continuation from my previous drop, inspired by the Bauhaus Triadic Ballet. I wanted to extend the visual dance to a second act with further geometric compositions and colour combinations." - Kanica
March Drop 2023
"Le Bal Géométrique" is a series of works inspired by the Bauhaus Triadic Ballet, and in Oskar Schlemmer´s words, the ballet´s creator in 1922, a party in form and colour. Each work depicts geometric compositions constructing a visual dance. As with all of the work of the Bauhaus, there was a desire in the ballet to free and dismantle the old forms of the art form, stripped to the basic and bare components, and I have tried to translate these concepts into this new collection." - Kanica, Le Bal Géométrique
Drop 5 - Winter 2022
"These new works are a continuation from my previous collection “Homage to Le Corbusier's Architectural Polychromy”. The artworks are inspired by key elements in Le Corbusier's architecture, with a particular emphasis on his “Colour Atmospheres”.
In 1931, Le Corbusier was offered the opportunity by wallpaper company Salubra to release his “Polychromie" as a wall covering collection. He created nine spatial colour atmospheres that took into account the different sensitivities of individuals in the selection of colours, and hence came up with his own "Colour Keyboards". In this new Drop I, wanted to further explore those atmospheres and translate them into my own visual language, by combining and contrasting the colours from each group." - Kanica, Colour Atmospheres
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Colour Atmosphere Sand II Blue Composition (Framed) Sold
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- £850.00
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Colour Atmosphere Sand II Sky Composition (Framed) Sold
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- £850.00
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Colour Atmosphere Sand II burgundy Composition (Framed) Sold
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- £850.00
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Drop 4 - Autumn 2022
“Spaces are extended by colours, connected, closed and placed in dialectical relationships”- Le Corbusier.
"In this new series of works entitled “Homage to Le Corbusier's Architectural Polychromy”, I wanted to create a collection of works that not only reflected on his colour theory, but also one that was greatly inspired by key elements from his architecture. Each piece is embroidered using yarn colours from both of his colour groups, so as to trigger a reaction on the viewer, emphasising on different objects and embodying a spatial effect, just as Le Corbusier did with his use of colour in architecture." - Kanica, Homage to Le Corbusier's Architectural Polychromy
Drop 2 - Summer 2022
"These four works are a continuation of my “Embroidered Dynamism” series from my February Drop. I wanted to work in a larger format and I have truly enjoyed it. The creation process is slightly more challenging due to the size, the texture of the yarn feels more present, and I love how the embroidered shapes take a major place in the canvas." - Kanica, Embroidered Dynamism Continued
"I have always loved having fresh flowers at home; on a mantelpiece, to add to a tablescape, on my desk… I could have them everywhere really, so the idea of creating my own flower pot series, felt very natural to me and a smooth continuation of my previous “Neo Terra” Collection. I wanted to create a playful and colourful series of pots, easy to combine together and display on a different side every time you wish but also a collection that embraced my visual language and exploration of shapes.
Please note that I didn't make these pots myself, but I have used them as a canvas for my creations. Handle and wash with care. Paint and glaze are food safe." - Kanica, Flower Pot Series
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Large variation n.3 - Azzuro dot, Framed Sold
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Large variation n.4 - Peacock dot, Framed Sold
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Large variation n.1 - Orange dot, Framed Sold
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Large variation n.2 - Sunshine dot, Framed Sold
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- £1,200.00
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Drop 1 - New Year 2022
"In these new series of bright colourful works entitled “Embroidered Dynamism” I wanted to explore the notion of movement. By breaking down the composition or by juxtaposing a dynamic composition that has merged from a composed one, I wanted to suggest motion. The pieces work as pairs or as individual works of art, or you can also mix the different styles together." - Kanica, Embroidered Dynamism
Drop 6 - Winter 2021
"These new series of works was inspired by artist Josef Albers’ Bauhaus Stencil Lettering System from 1926–1928, after seeing the work at a recent exhibition in the Musée d´Art Moderne in Paris. The Bauhaus has always been a constant inspiration in my work, and I am particularly fond of Anni and Josef Albers oeuvre. In these series I wanted to experiment and play around with the Stencil Lettering System to create different visual compositions in a “Bauhaus architectural” language, by combining vertical and horizontal arrangements and juxtaposing and balancing the different elements." - Kanica, Formal Balance
The Debut Home Collection
"I wanted to create a colourful and unique collection of cushions, that embraced the visual language and embroidered style of my canvases and ceramics, while exploring a new technique and medium. Each cushion is made of a hand-embroidered wool on cotton side, combined with a sumptuous colourful velvet fabric on the other side, and finished by a contrasting colour velvet piping. I employed the technique of “punch and needle” for the embroidered work. This allowed me to create more playful and textured designs, using repeated patterns and compositions. My aim was to mix different textures and colours to create a beautiful cushion collection for the home." - Kanica, Cushions by Kanica
Drop 4 - High Summer 2021
"In these new series of embroidered works I wanted to continue my exploration on how different shapes interact with each other and how they create a sense of balance depending on their composition. The series combines both organic and geometric pieces, yet the visual search is the same, the interplay between the forms." - Kanica, Jigsaw
Drop 2 - Spring 2021
"In these new decorative vases series I wanted to further explore the ways in which colour and shapes interact and influence each other and alter our own individual perceptions. I am particularly interested by Josef Albers “Interaction of Colour” theory, that suggests that colours are best studied via experience, experimentation and observations. Using colours inspired by the Mediterranean (deep blues, sandy mustards, red orange bricks, and whites) and applying his studies into painting the vases in a rhythmic manner, I observed how the same colour can be perceived rather differently against the various colour backgrounds. What I also like about this collection is that it is very playful, as every angle of the vase is different and by turning it around you have a new experience each time, therefore, further exploring the colour notions of Albers." - Kanica, Neo Terra
Drop 1 - New Year 2021
"I subconsciously added a circle in each work. Paul Klee's quotation came to my mind and somehow felt humorous and appropriate, as I feel the dots connect the pieces together." - Kanica, ‘A dot is a line that has gone for a walk’
Formas
"Formas is the Spanish name for shapes and the title of my debut collection. The quote by artist Anni Albers, "pure forms will never bore us”, is a consistent motto in my line of work. With every composition I seek to find a balance between rhythm and stillness, by combining texture, rudimentary shapes and colour." - Kanica, Formas
