This week I’ve worked non-stop with a piece I’m doing in collaboration with a political scientist. She’s writing a book on informal economies in Kosovo, and I’m working on the cover for that book.
I’m transforming the warp in the printing studio to help me create patterns that speak on power structures and hierarchies.
A small sample from todays workshop. Waffle weave in various sizes.
A couple of weeks ago, as I was weaving one of my samples; a woolen ikat-dyed warp binded with a linen weft thread, it was as if the threads started speaking with each other. I suppose that’s what they always do: as soon as the weave take form, a close collaboration between the threads begin. Somehow, this time felt different, and I started to wonder: what would the threads be saying if in fact they had the voice to speak?
March 20th 2013
Dear Warp thread #27,
How are you holding up? I passed you today in the loom during construction. I’m sorry I didn’t have the time to stop and say hello, the weaver seemed to be in a bit of a hurry. It was nice to see you again though, I think the last time was when we were in that warehouse in the south of Sweden. By the way, do you know where we are located now? I seem to have lost track of time and space since my last transportation.
Would you be free for lunch sometime soon? I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to.
Sincerely,
Weft
—
March 22nd 2013
Dear Weft,
I was so pleased to receive your letter. Thank you!
Oh, the stress. I don’t enjoy being stressed. Yes, the construction went pretty fast once you got involved. Before you joined in I had to get into a dye bath, well, parts of me anyway. It wasn’t enjoyable at all. Hot and stinky. It tangled me up. I’m glad that’s over.
I do remember that warehouse, I didn’t really like it there. Dark, cold and so many fibres everywhere. Crowded. I don’t like crowds. They make me dizzy. I think we’re a bit further north now. I guess still in Sweden.
Sorry that this letter isn’t very cheerful. It would be lovely to see you over lunch. How about tomorrow?
All the best,
Warp thread #27
Through my own practice, I intend to investigate the lives and journeys of materials, and to listen to the stories they might have to tell, in an attempt to get a deeper understanding for processes that often are taken for granted.
Talking threads is the first episode in a communicative body of works of which I’m excited to continue exploring. Currently the work consists of one woven sample and eight letters in which two of the interlaced threads share their thoughts and experiences from life.
Working with natural dyes is the current mission. Figuring out what the different mordants do with the colour, and not the least: to find substitutes for unhealthy substances that traditionally are being used: chalcanthite, copperas and other heavy metals. Instead, baking soda, a rusty iron pot and cream of tartar seem to work well in the tests that we’ve done so far. The red colour scheme is accomplished when dyeing with madder (krapprot).
This week a workshop was held at the textile department at Konstfack. The task was to work with a new bio-plastic that the research center Innventia introduced us to. It turned out to be one week of baking a material. The base in the recipe is gluten, and depending on what other components are added, the mixture takes on different qualities. Either as a dough, that after baked or dryed becomes a thick, hard material. Or as a paste, that after baked turns out more like a soft rubber-like material. I took the opportunity to experiment with the latter and to add coloring with food dyes, such as blueberry and raspberry, turmeric and green tea. My project as a whole can be viewed here.
The result of the workshop will be exhibited at Stockholm Furniture Fair in this week to come.
My most recent weave project at Konstfack, in which I investigate the Japanese dying technique Ikat together with a waffle weave structure. It feels good to get back to the craft.
