When I was talking with Agustina Woodgate about the origins of her rug pieces that are made from eviscerated stuffed toys, she told me this story: when she was a young girl growing up in Argentina, she had one teddy bear called Pepe.
Because there was only one, she had a deep, emotional attachment to it. She still has it to this day.
So, when she moved to the United States as an adult, she was surprised by how often plush toys ended up in second-hand stores. Did this mean that these toys were less loved?
Moreover, if she plush animals were so abundant, could she use them as raw materials for her work?
After making these works for several years, she is now planning to form the Animal Rug Company, giving new life to these stuffed animals for years to come.
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