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Ou-Mun Screen

The Ou-Mun screen takes its name from Macau’s original name. In this piece, Portuguese embroidery is deconstructed from its traditional territory and form to inhabit a new geometry and function. Not out of nostalgia or historical consequence, but as a coexistence of different times and heritages.


The design emerged from a study of the imperial robes of ancient Chinese dynasties, known as longpao, whose embroidered motifs once encoded a hierarchical system of symbols. The structure of the piece echoes the form of a circular fan, objects that symbolized status and power, carrying spiritual weight as emblems of virtue and wisdom. Among court women, fans enabled a silent form of communication known as the “language of the fan.” When the Portuguese arrived in Macau at the end of the 16th century, folding screens became coveted objects, absorbed into Macanese domestic life.

 

The making of this piece is deliberate. By removing the embroidery from its usual context, the proposal was to lift it off the floor, freeing it from the rigid, traditional geometry of rugs and transform it into a functional, singular object.

 

In creating this circular screen, the artist sought to materialize a harmony of opposites: on one side, the opulent detail and graphic weight of wool; on the other, the purity of raw linen. This is built on the belief that how something is made is also what it says. The blending of materials and design here is not ornamental — it is foundational. It asserts that a single body can hold several souls without contradiction.


Designed for Lisbon Design Week 2026, part of the collective exhibition Sotaque, a group of artists and designers rooted in the Lusophone network.

Photo Credit: Ariel da Mata (Main Image)

 

Seller: Mariana Rola Pereira

This work is offered for sale by the designer through The LDW Edit, a curated platform by Lisbon Design Week. LDW facilitates the transaction and is not the seller.

 

 

Technical Information
Year: 2026
Artists: Mariana Rola Pereira in collaboration with Rival
Edition: Unique Piece

Materials:
Arraiolos embroidery in jute canvas; Arraiolos wool, raw linen, cotton, solido walnut, brass and aluminium rods
Dimensions:
175 x 110 cm; 10 kg
Maker
Mariana Rola Pereira and Rival

Mariana Rola Pereira
Mariana Rola Pereira explores territories that are predominantly binary, working through the processing of identity and cultural heritage, and her relationship to space and landscape. Born in Macau and living between cultures, she uses her work to build bridges of contrast and to inhabit the spaces in between. She defines textile not as a support but as an ontology — a way of elaborating the real through fiction, revaluing gesture through drawing and through points of friction between thought, emotion, and material.
Her work proposes a rupture with hegemonic linearity, drawing on a traditional Portuguese embroidery technique with over four centuries of history. Through the reinterpretation of Arraiolos embroidery and the manipulation of fibers and techniques, the artist seeks the connecting threads that bind the human condition to the scale of the cosmos and the design of landscape. By transforming traditional knowledge into contemporary agency, she invites the perception of new structures of existence — spaces where past and present coexist without hierarchy.


Rival
After earning a degree in industrial design, Rival initially pursued a career in the same field. However, over time, he realized that his true passion lay not in digital sketches or mass production but in the tangible, hands-on process of crafting objects through artisanal techniques. Carpentry and woodworking, in particular, captivated him, offering a sense of fulfillment that no other creative process had. His fascination with the craft was deeply rooted in childhood memories, shaped by the influence of family traditions and an environment that encouraged making things by hand.Determined to bridge the gap between design and craftsmanship, he embarked on a path of continuous exploration, blending technical knowledge with intuitive creativity. This journey of experimentation and self-discovery remains ongoing, as he constantly seeks new ways to innovate while honoring time-honored techniques. His goal is to create wooden objects that are not only functional but also aesthetically compelling, reflecting a deep respect for both material and process.Rival was born from this vision—a brand that seeks to harmonize the principles of modern design with traditional craftsmanship. Every piece produced is a tribute to artisanal heritage, meticulously crafted to celebrate the beauty of wood and the timeless nature of handcrafted work. Through this approach, Rival aims to preserve and reinterpret classic woodworking methods, offering creations that stand the test of time both in form and function.

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