DELFINA CARMONA
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
Ceramic mate: Made by Argentine artisans, this vessel is filled with yerba mate and hot water, and used with a bombilla (straw) to drink the tea. There are mates of different sizes and materials, from traditional pumpkin to wood, glass, steel, plastic and ceramics. They’re sold at traditional fairs, as well as design stores and supermarkets. Linden leaves: The linden tree is very characteristic of my city, especially in the suburbs. It has these leaves and little seeds, and its delicious perfume floods the streets in spring, bringing back childhood memories. Soccer balls: A great Argentine passion is football, and these little balls symbolise local fanaticism for the sport. It's an obsession that’s passed on from generation to generation, and is present in everyone's heart. Personally, I'm not a big fan, but it's impossible not to get a bit excited during the World Cup. Yerba mate: This is a traditional South American drink that’s present in all houses and part of our daily life. It's a great symbol of sharing and friendship, and a ritual deeply rooted in our culture. Poetry book: This book of poetry is written by a local artist and great friend of mine, Gaby Pignataro. She’s part of a group of independent female artists who defend the role of feminism in society. In Buenos Aires, there's a very large and active cultural community and, although the current government closed many spaces for alternative cultural dissemination, the groups of artists continue to grow and form creative communities and cooperative societies. Sugar packet: This is from a local café, and features a phrase about love. Sugar packets with written phrases are very characteristic of our city – they have poems, popular sayings, and even quotes from Twitter.
Playing cards: Spanish cards are used for a very traditional game called Truco. It can be played by two or more participants, usually in pairs. The objective is to beat the opponent through deception.
Green handkerchief: This symbolises the ongoing struggle of women in my country to obtain their right to legal, safe and free abortion. Last year it nearly became law, but thanks to some conservative politicians, it’s a right we’re yet to achieve. The green handkerchief emerged as a symbol recently, and it’s exciting to see how women use it in their daily lives, on their backpacks and purses. They can be seen everywhere – on the street, on the bus, on the subway – like a great green tide.