Some Background:

Crafting Connections—Patchwork as a Collective Utopia is based on my perspective on art in the context of Take Care!—Festival of Solidarity and Resistance, on the ongoing mechanization of our world, on AI, and on transhumanism.

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In my research on this topic, ideas from cyberneticists such as Norbert Wiener and Heinz von Foerster, interestingly John Brockman’s Edge.org and of course Peter Thiel came into picture. There is certainly much to research further and discuss about it all on various levels. The story that appeared to me took on a dark and sinister tone at times. Terms like “de-skilling” came to my attention—a word I had never come across before but with which I had, in a somewhat unsettling way, become familiar in the context of the art world.

On a brighter note, I found a book by Frank R. Wilson titled The Hand: How Its Use Shapes the Brain, Language and Human Culture, which describes the importance and positive influence of manual labor on us as human beings and, of course, the many treasures that the textile arts and crafts have in store for us.

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If I simply draw on my personal experience—which is the most direct way to understand this—that handcrafting brings me peace and a sense of certainty, and when I make it my own, I feel alive and draw on it for my artistic work.It gives me the sense of being connected to the world both sensually and spiritually. When I devote my time to continuing to learn traditional craft techniques,  I am connected to all the people who came before me and who took it upon themselves to impart their knowledge and pass it on to future generations—as well as to those who today contribute creatively to its preservation and further development. If I have these skills, I only need a few and simple tools.

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My aim is to make the invisible visible, and I like to quote Klee. I am interested in interacting with nature—with fibers, plants, animals, and people—and with those who have been forgotten by history, overlooked, or otherwise rendered invisible, yet who have contributed to—and continue to contribute to—the enormous treasure trove of knowledge surrounding textile craftsmanship and the universe of its forms of expression.

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In Crafting Connections, I chose the simple yet unique Suffolk Puff—also known as a yo-yo or fuxico—for two reasons: first, because the method of making it is easily accessible. And also—and especially—because its round, puffy shape embodies a harmonious cheerfulness that invites us to relax and enjoy each other’s company. The process of making it and the many others that all need to be arranged in one way or another satisfy the human need for creativity—a need that expresses a zest for life and is inherent in us as living beings.

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​At first glance, it might seem very quirky but that is exactly what makes it so appealing and encourages you to step out of your comfort zone in a good way. And the more you make and reflect on it, the more charming the creative process becomes.

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I'm really excited about the opportunity to be part of “Take Care!”, to share my knowledge, and to create something organic and new together with you.

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In Our Hands

In the world, we touch, explore, transform, and connect what we find within it. We are connected. 

Stay human. Keep going. Pass it on.

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