For German artist Robert Janitz, Mexico has become more than just a place to live and work; it has reshaped his imagination. From the roof of his Mexico City studio, the volcano Popocatépetl looms as both a physical and symbolic muse, inspiring Janitz to create Locus Solus, a rug that transforms the volcanic landscape into a work woven with both texture and meaning. This piece is part of his exhibition Popocatépetl (Love is in the Air), where he reimagines the volcano through art.

Drawing from his background in painting and a childhood surrounded by weaving, Janitz found the rug form to be the perfect medium to capture the interplay between nature and human presence. Inspired by the surrealist French novel by Raymond Roussel, Locus Solus merges the majesty of Popocatépetl with the quiet strength of a human figure, inviting viewers into a world where memory and imagination collide.

“Locus Solus is more than an image; it’s a fusion of memory and imagination, a landscape that bridges the power of nature and the quiet mystery of human presence. By capturing the volcano as a human form, I hoped to transform this natural wonder into a portrait of character and resilience–a reminder of the surreal beauty that comes from merging worlds.”

– Robert Janitz.

Collaborating with Odabashian, Janitz saw his painted visions come alive through intricate weaving. Growing up in Germany, where his mother was a master weaver, he developed a deep appreciation for hand-dyed wool and the subtleties of textile work. For Locus Solus, he took special care to allow brush marks and textures to find their own expression within the woven medium, ensuring the piece was more than a mere translation, it was a reinvention.

“Working with Odabashian was like opening a door to a new dimension of creativity. Jaime and his team understood the depth I wanted to bring to the rug. Together, we didn’t just translate a painting into a woven piece; we created something entirely new, an art form with its own life and texture.”

As Janitz prepares for his upcoming solo show in New York City in 2025, he returns with a renewed perspective, having spent the past four years exploring and reshaping his artistic vision. With new works that continue to bridge worlds of inspiration, Janitz remains at the forefront of artistic transformation, capturing the essence of both place and process.