Contemporary
thinking
Textile seeing
This interactive exhibition brings together 9 international contemporary textile art centres from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Poland and Great Britain. Each higher education institution has its own way of perceiving textile media in the context of contemporary art, but all are characterized by both technological mastery and conceptual approach.
The interactive exhibition reveals different interpretations of textile art and ways of artistic expression. Techniques range from traditional, such as sewing, hand embroidery and hand-woven tapestry to the use of new technologies, such as digital printing, computerized jacquard weaving and laser cutting. Alongside traditional forms of expression, we find drawing, installation, mixed media, video and sound art, performance and robotics. The experimentation and use of unusual materials, such as sandpaper, medical bandages, optical fibre, metal, wood, glass, plastic and resin is more evident than ever. All this shows that contemporary textile artists are pushing the boundaries, breaking the rules and constantly experimenting within the field.
The works range from functional objects, such as wall panels and clothes to more abstract, decorative and conceptual pieces. The themes presented in the artists’ works include the human body, religion, culture, history, environment, politics and gender issues. There is no theme that textile artists cannot tackle. They work with complicated topics, raise important questions, engage and connect with the outside world. Through their works they show that textile is flexible and dynamic, it can change and adapt to the challenges of contemporary world and respond with integrity of its own creative language.
Since textile is something that is always close to the body, radiates warmth and requires touch, it can be challenging to experience it through a computer screen. Sometimes a photograph alone cannot communicate the true qualities of the artwork. Therefore, moving images, video and sound presentations bring to life the cloths and fibres that should be experienced close up in order to reveal its true magic. They invite the viewers to explore the possibilities and deepen our understanding of textile art.
Curator Neringa Kulik