SPECULAR in shades of purple and yellow. Artwork 15/2023, handcrafted with wool, mixed and recycled yarns. I first presented a large version of SPECULAR consisting of 4 intertwined mask-portraits at the Florence Biennale of Contemporary Art and Design in October 2023, where was awarded with the Special Commendation Award. At the same time I presented a smaller version, Specular II, with 2 intertwined masks at Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven, which was sold immediately to a Dutch visitor. The techniques used to create this tapestry in particular are handtufting, punchneedle, embroidery and crochet. I carefully source my yarns in local Tuscan factories and in the North of Italy. The Specular designs are based on mirrored and interconnected portraits, which reveal different moods. The Specular collection consists of unique tapestries that are handmade in Florence with local high-quality natural and recycled yarns. The interconnected and mirrored portrait geometries in contrasting colours refer to vibrant, enigmatic masks. In her studio Taftique in Florence, Dutch artist Jules Vissers translates an old tradition into modern artworks. Here she designs and creates hand-tufted and embroidered tapestries using high-quality Italian yarns. She graduated cum laude in Art Textiles at the Florence Art Academy and won the European Textile and Craft Award 2024 of the European Textile Academy in Bolzano, Italy, for her work. She participates regularly in art and design events such as Milan Design Week, Dutch Design Week and Florence Biennale. She is a member of Homo Faber, a guide to European excellence in craftsmanship and sells her work on Artemest. Her art pays homage to nature using only natural yarns and those derived from recycled fibers and local deadstock. #IWD24