The artisan master Eduardo Bernal sources his material, vines, from the virgin rainforests that still thrive near El Paujil, Caquetá. While a cut rainforest can regenerate, the vines do not grow back. These vines come in three types: panzaeburro, yaré, and crucero. The first is pliable, durable, and yields large fibers. The second is the finest but rare, while the third, marked by a cross in its middle, is brittle and suitable only for short fibers, ideal as a skeleton for pieces and woven around with larger fibers.

With over forty years living in Caquetá and the teachings from his father, Eduardo learned to work with the natural offerings. His father, Isidro Bernal, who cultivated and harvested, used to weave baskets for gathering coffee and corn long before sacks became prevalent in town. Among six children, Eduardo was the sole one who keenly observed and learned his father’s craft. He absorbed knowledge about the large baskets carried by men on their backs capable of holding over twenty kilos of corn, as well as the small square baskets tied to men’s waists used for harvesting coffee grains.

While honoring his artisanal heritage, Eduardo also became a well-known tree trimmer in town. Apart from the fact that both tree trimming and vine weaving depend on the natural world, these two jobs have merged very well in Eduardo’s life. In El Paujil, to alleviate the heat, people plant various trees such as pomos, maníes, and cafés along sidewalks, providing shade. Once these trees grow too large, Eduardo trims them into square or round shapes and promotes his baskets among his clients. Gradually, word-of-mouth spread, and presently, he receives orders for various woven creations—wall pieces for shop decor, lamps, vases, egg baskets, and even weight-bearing mats woven from a sturdy vine.

He relishes bringing these orders to life as they challenge his problem-solving skills. Fishermen sought him out for a nasa basket—a two-entry basket used for bait on riverbeds to catch fish. Eduardo recalled observing his father making one long ago, relying on those memories to fashion his own nasa basket. Consequently, his creations gained a new purpose: catching cachamas, mojarras, nicuros, bocachicos, pintadillos, and sardines teeming in Caquetá’s rivers. This artisan, acquiring profound knowledge through observation, eagerly tackles every challenge and finds joy in crafting each piece. As he works, he reflects on his journey as a craftsman, a path initiated by his father, a master weaver.