THE PHOTOGRAPHS
The inspiration for this collaborative project began with the images captured through Leslie Osterling’s lens, and her solo show, HÆIRLOOM, OLLANTAYTAMBO'S (POST) MODERN WEAVERS, curated by Gustavo Buntinx.
Seeking to showcase the innovation and transformation happening for multiple communities, through a social enterprise called, CHIQA, Leslie has undertaken a photographic study of this unique team of women, who use their ancestral weaving skills to create luxury wigs and toppers -with each piece holding its own story.
THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Leslie Osterling is a visual artist and photographer; a mother; entrepreneur; and patron of the arts. Her work has been exhibited both individually and collectively in Lima, Madrid, Miami, South Korea, and London. Most recently, she showcased her work at Photo London as part of the Peruvian photography stand. In 2023, her work was included in the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy.
Her artistic practice explores the aesthetic value of art and its role in society, articulated through an activist approach where art serves not as an end in itself, but as a medium for generating actions aimed at social development. Since 2023, her focus has been on HÆIRLOOM: OLLANTAYTAMBO'S (POST) MODERN WEAVERS, a project exhibited at the Peruvian Embassy in London and now selected for the 2025 London Design Biennale.
"We hope to expand awareness of the beauty, strength, and versatility of human hair as a fibre beyond its roots, with vast potential as a sustainable, organic, ethical and regenerative design material."
~Leslie Osterling
"Our Peruvian community, confronted always with so many trying challenges, is a glaring example of how skill and perseverance can bring us out of despair. In the midst of our many difficulties, the creative achievements of Ollantaytambo's weavers are a beacon of hope."
~Leslie Osterling
ORIGINAL CURATORIAL TEXT
In 2023, the photographs comprising HÆIRLOOM were showcased for the first time at an exhibition at the Peruvian Embassy in London. Accompanying the photographs was a curatorial text by Gustavo Buntinx, which now serves as the foundation for the display at the Peruvian Pavilion at the London Design Biennale.
