Paris-based artist and director Alix Bortoli brings a poetic and tactile sensibility to everything she creates. For her collaboration with Romualda, she transformed the Madrid store window into a luminous landscape inspired by lichens — a dialogue between nature, light, and fabric. Working with beeswax-treated textiles and wood, Alix shaped an installation that feels alive: organic, warm, and deeply connected to the spirit of the collection.
1. You created a beautiful window installation for Romualda’s Madrid store. Could you tell us about the concept behind it?
The founders, Cristina and Mariana, shared their inspiration for the collection, which was based on lichens and the natural world. So, I wanted to create an installation inspired by the patterns of lichens, using textiles combined with bee wax to give it a skin-like, organic feel. I also added some lighting to give it a whimsical touch as well.
I created different maquettes in my studio in Paris, and I experimented with bee wax on textiles and threads, along with a lot of drawings. Then I brought everything to Madrid, and with Hugo, my assistant, we started creating it there. We were well-prepared, but we also wanted to leave room for some improvisation inspired by the collection and what we’d discover by getting closer to Cristina’s work.
2. Your work often begins with research into materials and techniques. What did that exploration look like for this project?
This is true for each project, I always like to experiment with a new technique. The artisanal way of working is very important and inspiring for me. For this project, I developed my textile work further, but also explored its sculptural dimension, the installation felt almost like creating a giant lamp.
I wanted to use beeswax because it made sense with the brand, whose collection is inspired by nature. It also allowed me to create something with a low environmental impact. I found it fascinating to work with beeswax on textile, it’s not perfectly clean; it leaves marks and has this unapologetic, organic quality that I really love.
3. The structure combines wood and beeswax-treated fabrics — a fascinating mix of texture and light. What drew you to these materials?
I chose bee wax and wood because, as I mentioned in my previous answer, it aligns perfectly with Romualda's collection, which is inspired by nature and lichen. For me, that created a strong connection.
4. You mentioned that beeswax allows the light to expand softly through the fabric. How did this play of light influence the atmosphere you wanted to create?
I chose to add light to the installation to give it a lively and rhythmical aspect, reflecting the world of nature. Additionally, it plays with the fact that during winter, half of the day is dark, creating a sort of Christmas window effect. The fabric, with light behind it and shining through the beeswax, has a very warm aspect. The patterns are almost like stained glasses, where the light passing through creates a beautiful, inviting effect.
5. You also incorporated Romualda hats into the installation. How did you approach blending your artistic vision with the world of the brand?
It was very important for me to create an installation that blends my art and the identity of the brand, to create something complementary. So for that, with Hugo, we decided to use the hats as more of objects, and to use them in different forms. They can be like flowers around the root, or they can be floating in front of a fabric, or just part of the installation, almost like mushrooms.
6. Whether in film or sculpture, your art always feels very tactile and poetic. What connects all these different forms of expression for you?
For me, I always need to create with my hands. I find that working through materials brings me even more inspiration. When it comes to film, if it’s purely digital, it’s harder for me to imagine it as something physical. I’m deeply inspired by sculptors like Calder, Giacometti, and my favorite, Fausto Melotti. I also love keeping pieces from my films like lamps or fabric at home, almost like relics. In the future, I’d love to blend installation art and video more, creating a dialogue between the physical elements and the video in my installations.
7. What do you enjoy most about collaborating with a brand like Romualda, whose values and aesthetics resonate with your own?
What I truly enjoy about collaborating with Romualda is how deeply their aesthetic resonates with me. The brand is co-founded by two sisters: one is a painter, and the other is a designer. I absolutely love their concept of turning a canvas into a hat or a dress, and the creativity behind it brings so much joy. Their paintings, always connected to nature and dreams, are incredibly powerful and carry a unique feminine strength. The color palettes and the freedom embodied in their clothing are truly inspiring. Moreover, I appreciate that the brand is produced in Spain or Portugal, with a strong focus on quality. They don’t follow trends; instead, they stay true to the artistic vision of the founders, which makes the brand truly unique.