Art and Textiles of the World Scandinavia
Matthew Koumis, Editor

March 1, 2005 - June 1, 2005

Art textiles in the 21st century are a mode of vision, a way of seeing the world, more than a question of what is made or how it is made. This vision is often instinctively infused with love and poetry. In the work of Scandinavian textile artists, certain preoccupations recur: a feel for the open spaces of nature and a yearning for light; traditional techniques, embraced, transcended or flouted; a stylistic flair for linear geometry of great elegance; a sometimes crushing sense of social isolation; a feel for modern technologies; and a dynamic involvement with the architectural setting.

In the work of Anna Lindal from Iceland, geography meets art. Star constellations, the smoke emanating from erupting lava, the patterns of rock strata, their patterning and their randomness are mysteriously but convincingly translated into compelling video installations.

Weaving is given a contemporary twist by Swedish artist Annika Ekdahl. Exploiting the close connection between pixilated digital techniques and the woven surface, and working from designs which she has manipulated in Photoshop, she creates tapestries of epic proportions and filmic, contemporary nature.

Few figurative textile artists anywhere in the world depict the human face with such poignancy as the Finnish weaver Aino Kajaniemi. She writes, "I use old and difficult techniques. In a way, it resembles ballet, where the dance seems easy and light as a feather, but in reality the training and sheer effort is as heavy as lead."

The Norwegian artist Gunvor Nervold Antonsen breaks silence by composing texts, embroidering them, projecting fragments using a slide projector on top of her multi-layered hangings. The resulting installations convey a desire for, and a fear of, human communication and interaction.

Copenhagen-based textile designer Ingrid Krogh, recipient of prestigious commissions including the Danish Parliament House, works predominantly with what can be described as neon wallpaper, while Oslo based textile artists Wagle & Lovaas are collaborating on the new national Opera House of Oslo with architects Snohetta. Krogh and Wagle & Lovaas' commissioned works provide fascinating examples of a modern system of art patronage as well as extending the textile mode of vision into other materials in a convincing way.

We hope that the viewer will find beauty, solace and inspiration within our show.

Excerpted from Art Textiles of the World S C A N D I N A V I A, Telos Publishing. Contact us at mgblock@fiberscene.com to purchase a copy of this beautiful book.


Anna Lindal


UNTITLED
1990
stone, thread
20 x 42 x 8 cm





ALWAYS THERE
2000
wasp, thread
14 x 6 cm



IN THE BACKYARD
2003
laptop, video as screen saver, coffee cup, linen, sugar, thread
25 x 34 x 25cm





BORDERS
2000
video installations, domestic objects
variable dimensions



UNTITLED
2001
thread
variable dimensions



VARIATIONS TILBRIGDI
1995
table, tablecloth, coffee set, thread, forks, sugar, photographs
variable dimensions











VARIATIONS TILBRIGDI - detail





BORDERS
2000
Video Stills
Grìmsfjal Vatnajökull, Iceland
volcanic euptions, 1998



BORDERS Video Still


BORDERS Video Still




BORDERS Video Still


BORDERS Video Still




BORDERS Video Still


BORDERS Video Still



Annika Ekdahl


THE THEATRE IN THE PARK
2004
Photoshop digital design
300 x 300cm
photographer: Annika Ekdahl
NFS - Reserved for exhibitions 2005-2008











THE THEATRE IN THE PARK - detail





THE WEDDING AT QUEENS
2002
tapestry
300 x 300cm
photographer: Lena Bengtsson
NFS - Reserved for exhibitions 2005-2008



THE BAROQUE PARTY
2000
tapestry
320 x 300cm
NFS at this time
photographer: Annika Ekdahl
NFS - Reserved for exhibitions 2005-2008











THE BAROQUE PARTY - detail



DARLINGS
2003
tapestry
100 x 300cm
photographer: Lena Bengtsson
NFS - Reserved for exhibitions 2005-2008











DARLINGS - detail





WE'RE FINE
2003
interactive embroidery
120 x 1000cm
photographer: Lena Bengtsson
NFS - Reserved for exhibitions 2005-2008


Aino Kajaniemi


ENCHANTMENT
2002
linen, cotton, wool, hemp, viscose, tapestry
58 x 43cm each
photographer: Riitta Järvelä
NFS









ENCHANTMENT- detail





A WHILE
2002
linen, cotton, viscose, gold, wool, hemp, tapestry
nine pieces, each 30 x 40cm
photographer: Rauno Träskelin
NFS





A WHILE 2
2002
linen, cotton, viscose, tapestry
30 x 40 cm
photographer: Aino Kajaniemi
NFS





A PARTY
2001
linen, cotton, wool, silk, tapestry
30 x 40cm
photographer: Aino Kajaniemi
NFS





LOVE
2001
linen, cotton, viscose, tapestry
30 x 40 cm
photographer: Aino Kajaniemi
NFS





BURDEN
1997
linen, cotton, viscose, silk, hair, tapestry
30 x 40 cm
photographer: Riitta Järvelä
NFS


Gunvor Nervold Antonsen


VENTENDE, I MELLOM (DETAIL)
2003
embroidery on silk
320 x 100 cm
photographer: Gunvor Nervold Antonsen
$2100






DISTURBANCES (DETAIL)
2001
embroidery on silk
300 x 220cm
photographer: Gunvor Nervold Antonsen
$1300





TEXTURED ROOMS
2001
embroidery and projection
variable dimensions
photographer: Gunvor Nervold Antonsen
NFS



ENTANGLED, ENTRAPPED, ABSORBED ("THREADS OF TRANSGRESSION" SERIES)
2003
embroidery on silk
3 half open circles of 300 x 300cm
photographer: Espen Tollefsen
$10,200









ENTANGLED, ENTRAPPED, ABSORBED- detail



A MOMENTARY RESISTANCE (DETAIL, "THREADS OF TRANSGRESSION SERIES)
2003
embroidery on canvas
250 x 340cm
photographer: Espen Tollefsen
$6200



FEATS OF VULNERABILITY (DETAIL, "THREADS OF TRANSGRESSION SERIES)
2003
embroidered bandages
variable dimensions
photographer: Gunvor Nervold Antonsen
$4100






TEXTURED ROOMS
2001
embroidery and projection
variable dimensions
photographer: Gunvor Nervold Antonsen
NFS



WALL-WRITINGS
2004
embroidery on silk
74 x 100cm
photographer: Gunvor Nervold Antonsen
$450


Ingrid Krogh




BLUE
2002
woven optical fibres
300 x 250cm
Photography: Bent Ryberg
NFS



LIGHTMAIL
2000
woven optical fibres
150 x 800cm
Photography: Torben Eskerod
NFS





HOLBEIN (detail)
2002
neon tapestry
200 x 320cm
Photography: Kurt Rodahl
NFS



WALL DECORATION, DSB, SOLVGADE, COPENHAGEN
2002
woven stainless steel
250 x 250cm
Photography: Torben Eskerod
NFS









WALL DECORATION, DSB, SOLVGADE, COPENHAGEN - detail



POLYTICS, WALL DECORATION, FOLKETINGET, THE DANISH PARLIAMENT
2003
neon tapestry
240 x 720cm
Photography: Torben Eskerod
NFS





ORNAMENT
2003
neon tapestry
260 x 360cm
Photographer: Kurt Rodahl
NFS





ORNAMENT



ORNAMENT





ORNAMENT



ORNAMENT





ORNAMENT



POLYTICS, WALL DECORATION, FOLKENTINGET, THE DANISH PARLIAMENT
2003
neon tapestry
Photography: Torben Eskerod
NFS





POLYTICS, WALL DECORATION, FOLKENTINGET, THE DANISH PARLIAMENT
2003
neon tapestry



POLYTICS, WALL DECORATION, FOLKENTINGET, THE DANISH PARLIAMENT
2003
neon tapestry





POLYTICS, WALL DECORATION, FOLKENTINGET, THE DANISH PARLIAMENT
2003
neon tapestry



POLYTICS, WALL DECORATION, FOLKENTINGET, THE DANISH PARLIAMENT
2003
neon tapestry





POLYTICS, WALL DECORATION, FOLKENTINGET, THE DANISH PARLIAMENT
2003
neon tapestry



Wagle & Lovaas




PATTERN TYPESTRY
1994
suits, nylon stockings, blockprint
323 x 325cm
photographer: Halvard Haugerud





SHIMMER
1999
woolen blankets, nylon stockings
170 x 160
photographer: Halvard Haugerud





NEW OSLO OPERA SKETCH
2004
photographer: Peter Knudsen





NEW OSLO OPERA MODEL
2004
photographer: Snohetta





OPERA BOOK
photographer: Wagle & Lovaas





OPERA PATTERN
photographer: Wagle & Lovaas


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