top of page
Over two intimate sittings at Somerset House, “Yerba Mate & Conversations” unfolded as both a sensorial tasting and a guided cultural dialogue. In collaboration with Sur Andina, guests were introduced to Andean mythology and invited to explore the textures of mate gourds, polished bombillas and carefully dried yerba mate leaves. Under the guidance of Chef Jezabel Careaga, each participant learned the etiquette of sharing mate, passing the gourd in turn, savoring the infusion of Andean herb rica rica and departing with a small bundle of leaves as a keepsake of that shared moment.
Sur Andina is an Argentine art collective that pays tribute to the Andean worldview through immersive textile and sound installations. By weaving ancestral patterns and ceremonial rhythms into contemporary art, it invites audiences to reconnect with the earth, honor collective memory and celebrate shared cultural roots. As Argentina’s official representative at the London Design Biennale 2025, Sur Andina bridged past and present, fostering deep dialogue between tradition and innovation.
Through my lens, I captured the soft glow of afternoon light on woven textiles and the concentric circles of hands embracing each shared gourd. Framed by Sur Andina’s homage to Andean cosmovision, where textile art and sound invite us to reconnect with earth, memory and the collective, this ritual became more than a tasting. It transformed into a living portrait of hospitality that forged new connections and translated a simple drink into a profound moment of cultural immersion.
Estudio Ciclo is a London-based design studio specializing in contemporary ceramic mate gourds. For “Yerba Mate & Conversations,” we had the pleasure of collaborating with Estudio Ciclo to showcase their beautifully crafted mate vessels at the Argentine pavilion. Their elegant, hand-finished gourds served as both functional objects and cultural ambassadors, bringing the artistry of Argentine craftsmanship to an international design audience.
Would like to learn more?
Please visit:
www.estudiociclo.com
Jezabel Careaga
Somerset House
bottom of page