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ARTIST CAMILLE WALALA SHINES A LIGHT ON THE DELIGHTS OF OAXACA, MEXICO
Artist Camille Walala on the delights of Oaxaca, Mexico
french-born artist and designer Camille Walala is known for her joyful, graphic-style street murals and love of bold colour. Since setting up her east London studio in 2009, her uplifting design projects have spanned interiors too, from a rug collection for Floor Story to Salt, an immersive Mauritian boutique hotel. We caught up with Camille to find out about her favourite colour-drenched holiday destination, Oaxaca in Mexico.
First things first, best time to go?
I visited in February last year and the weather was perfect. Not too hot, so you can spend hours walking and visiting all the amazing places Oaxaca has to offer, yet sunny so all the colours of the city pop!
Where should we stay?
The Grana B&B – it’s an old hacienda that’s been restored by two brothers with an architectural background. They work with local artisans to fill the space with beautiful objects and furniture. The food is traditional and the service second to none.
Local dishes to try?
I ate the most incredible street food, incredibly cheap and delicious. A favourite was the cochinita pibil tacos, from a particular taco stand that was apparently the best one around. It would appear around 9pm each night, on a street corner in a quiet part of town.
Best markets?
There are so many! The food markets are a great place to start. The two big ones are over the road from each other: the Mercado 20 de Noviembre and
Mercado Benito Juarez, where there is the most delicious array of Mexican cuisine, as well as an incredible selection of produce.
Designers we should check out?
I have been following Rrres (which means nothing) on Instagram for some time. When I had the opportunity to meet him in person in Oaxaca, I jumped on the opportunity. His work is absolutely beautiful and he prides himself on working with traditional makers and artisans from Mexico and Latin America.
Your perfect day trip?
Mexico City, it’s more of a weekend trip from Oaxaca. Start with breakfast at Lardo in Roma, then off to Jardines del Pedregal to the home of architect Luis Barragán. A few steps down the road is the Tetetlán, where you can eat a fantastic lunch, learn about the history of the area, shop and visit the beautiful library among other things.
Architectural gems?
There are so many it’s impossible to choose. I was told that there are little to no building regulations in Mexico, so people really go to town on their homes. Walking down the street you would see a brutalist bubblegum pink home adjacent to a traditional hacienda, an incredible feast for the eyes! That said, while in Mexico City I went on a pilgrimage of everything Barragán and Legorreta. So if I had to choose, nothing matched the feeling I had when I visited the Cuadra San Cristóbal by Barragán in Mexico City. The vibrancy of that pink against the blue skies blew my mind!