Marta Cabané: Inspired by Yucatán’s natural beauty and weathered walls

Set against the historic backdrop of Centro Cultural La Cúpula in Mérida, the upcoming Brutalidad Mate exhibition brings together two distinct but harmonizing visions of artistry and heritage.

At its core are the fashion designs of Marta Cabané and the jewelry creations of Irving Urquidi, both of whom strive to awaken our senses to the raw elements of time, memory, and nature’s force.

Curator Leïla Voight, who orchestrated this thought-provoking encounter, describes how Cabané’s garments arise from photographs of natural landscapes and the region’s weathered walls. These images are meticulously reimagined into textiles that reveal the richness of mineral tones and the quiet strength of rural Yucatán. 

“Marta’s garments come from a place where echoes of bygone eras become part of our present narrative. Her photographs remove distractions and allow us to sense the weight of minerals, the density of rural landscapes, and that subtle pull of history that lingers just beneath the surface,” says Voight.

Cabané herself elaborates on this deep connection between nature, culture, and cloth. 

“With Macana Textiles, the essence of our natural wonders comes alive in fashion,” she says. “My clothing line is a fusion of artistic designs crafted from real photographs of nature and the captivating walls that continue to inspire me. I design for people who share a bond with nature and cultural heritage, seeking to make a fashion statement without compromising their connection to the earth.”

The Spanish-born designer and photographer’s approach is grounded in sustainability. 

“I’m committed to using 100% natural materials, ensuring that every piece reflects my respect for the environment. Discover the fashion that empowers you to embrace your natural affinity for the world while expressing your unique style through eco-friendly choices.” says Cabané.

While Cabané’s fabrics channel the landscapes themselves, jeweler Irving Urquidi’s pieces speak in whispers of pure metal and mineral simplicity. Matte-finished silver is paired with gentle gold accents, forming pieces intentionally left in their raw state. According to Voight, “Irving’s work is about acknowledging the essential character of the materials. He uses these natural elements to highlight our fragility and recognize the quiet beauty in simplicity.”

In unison, these works do more than adorn: they challenge us to observe the slow choreography of time and the subtle endurance of historical memory. Standing beneath the timeless presence of the Cúpula, the viewer encounters gentle, everyday brutality—the persistent soft edges and rough surfaces that shape our lives, past and present.

“In these works, we see the softness and severity of daily life, the timeless gestures that refuse to be forgotten,” says Voight. “Their interplay against the Cúpula’s silent testimony to centuries gone by reminds us that the human story is as much about what remains as it is about what we choose to carry forward.” 

Through Cabané’s sustainable, nature-inspired textiles and Urquidi’s elemental jewelry, Brutalidad Mate casts a thoughtful gaze on heritage, echoing the power and permanence of the world surrounding us.

Brutalidad Mate opens with an inauguration 1-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at Centro Cultural La Cúpula, Calle 54 and 43, Centro. Items are on sale through December. A percentage of the proceeds will go to the Mexican Association for Aid to Children with Cancer (AMANC). @lacupulamerida