Marta Katarzyna Buda
To honour the maker behind our favourite woven bags, we visited textile artist
and mother Marta Buda at her home in Wellington, New Zealand. We found her weaving
at her table with her daughter, pouring hours of skill, patience and care into each of her
hand-woven pieces. It was both mesmerising and soothing to watch.
As the year's seasons take a turn for warmer, longer days, our spirits lift
and our desire is to explore and be inspired yet again. With this in mind, we asked Marta
to share her best reading and viewing recommendations for spring.
VIEW
— Ida by Pawel Pawlikowski
This story about a nun, learning of her family's past, is a visual feast. Every frame is perfect. I can't wait to see Palikowski's latest film Cold War soon too.
— L'Avventura by Michelangelo Antonioni
Another visually inspiring movie, this one is an Italian mystery film and also an iconic classic. If you haven't watched it yet, you really should.
— Juliette of the Herbs
A beautiful documentary about the life of Juliette de Bairacli Levy -a herbalist and pioneer of holistic vetinerary medicine. I was very moved and inspired when I watched this years ago. I instantly went online and ordered her books on herbal remedies for children.
— Rock and Roll by Guillaume Canet
I am not ashamed to enjoy low brow humour and although this is not super low brow (maybe midbrow?!) this is a very silly and funny film. The film is directed by Marion Cotillard's husband Guillame Canet, and the pair play satirical versions of themselves in a script that is quite ridiculous.
READ
— The Neopolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante
I could not put these down and I am yet to meet someone who would disagree that these are evocative and captivating books.
— Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
My friend Hannah sent me this book when I decided to return to vegetarianism last year. To be honest, I could only emotionally handle a few chapters at a time. It is a very important book about how humans have industrialised the farming and consumption of sentient beings, and the disconnect consumers have to this.
— The Mother of All Questions by Rebecca Solnit
This little book of short essays is a relevant commentary on gender and feminism.
VIEW
— The Wish by Marin Duckworth.
A place I like to go sometimes for video inspiration is the website "Pomelo Magazine" carefully curated by Bree Apperley. There is a great section there called Boob Tube where they have selected videos to watch with (or without) your kids. One that I have gone back to a few times is a short film from the 1970's that follows twin girls on holiday at their grandparents’ lake house. It instantly transports you to another era and way of life.
— La Collectioneuse by Eric Rohmer
I went on a bit of a Rohmer binge a few years ago and his film stills often make the rounds of social media but I still love the way people live and communicate in his films (as well as the outfits and colours!). They come from a time that is now extinct, when stimulating conversation, and debate are part of life and meals are enjoyed at a table set outside. I'm not sure if this is my favourite of his films but it is visually appetising.
— Ghibli Studio films (namely Hayao Miyakzaki films, especially). I can't choose one. We used to watch My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Ponyo, and Pom Poko, so regularly that sadly my daughter isn't interested in them anymore. The heavier ones, such as Princess Mononoke and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind are more suited to slightly older audiences.
We kindly thank our collaborators.
Photographer of stills and moving image Ophelia Mikkelson
Direction Yasmine Ganley
Muse Marta Katarzyna Buda