The Resurgence of the Real: Weaving, Crochet and Embroidery in Anthropocene Art
This article explores the revival of traditional textile arts—such as weaving, crochet, and embroidery—in modern artistic expressions as a counter to the prevalence of digital technology. Artists are employing these methods to visualize data and tackle issues related to the Anthropocene. Notable works include Tamiko Thiel's "Carnation Rain" (2011), Dora Garcia's "Locating Story 2" (2012), Aram Bartholl's "Map," and blablaLab's "Be Your Own Souvenir." The piece also discusses wearable technology, featuring Philips Design's "Bubelle" dress (2006), Barbara Layne's "Currente Calamo" (2011), Kobakant's "The Crying Dress" (2012), and Amor Muñoz's "Maquila Región 4" (since 2010). Additionally, Anna Dumitriu's "Bed and Chair Flora" (since 2006) investigates bacteria, while Ciro Najle's "Cummulus" (2007) employs crochet to capture fog. These creations redefine the concept of engaged art within the Anthropocene.
Key facts
- Tamiko Thiel's 'Carnation Rain' (2011) uses augmented reality to drop red carnations on Largo do Carmo, Lisbon, referencing the 1974 Carnation Revolution.
- Dora Garcia's 'Locating Story 2' (2012) involved an actor following a stranger and tweeting their actions.
- Aram Bartholl's 'Map' project creates physical sculptures from Google's location icon.
- Philips Design's 'Bubelle' dress (2006) changes color based on the wearer's emotions via biometric sensors.
- Barbara Layne's 'Currente Calamo' (2011) weaves LEDs into garments that display Bluetooth messages.
- Kobakant's 'The Crying Dress' (2012) releases water droplets and plays crying sounds from embroidered speakers.
- Amor Muñoz's 'Maquila Región 4 / MR4' (since 2010) pays Mexican workers minimum wage to embroider circuits.
- Anna Dumitriu's 'mrsa Quilt' (2012) uses antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus cultures to create patterns.
Entities
Artists
- Tamiko Thiel
- Dora Garcia
- Aram Bartholl
- blablaLab
- Barbara Layne
- Hannah Perner-Wilson
- Mika Satomi
- Amor Muñoz
- Anna Dumitriu
- Ciro Najle
- Pierre Huyghe
- Lucy Orta
- Jorge Orta
- Catherine Rannou
- Peter Ginter
- Julius von Bismarck
- Gilles Jobin
- Bill Fontana
- Diana Taimina
Institutions
- Philips Design
- CERN
- Jeu de Paume
- Cornell University
- Espace virtuel du Jeu de Paume
Locations
- Lisbon
- Portugal
- Mexico City
- Mexico
- Chile
- Atacama Desert
- Antarctic
- CERN
- Geneva
- Switzerland
Sources
- artpress —