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LOUISE BOURGEOIS: BETWEEN THREAD AND MEMORY, THE STORY OF AN ANCIENT CHILD
| by Eleonora Giglione | “I am not what I am, I am what I do with my hands”, Louise Bourgeois “Cloth Lullaby – The Woven Life of Louise Bourgeois” is an illustrated book for children and adults alike. And yet, both child and adult at the same time is also the soul it portrays: Louise Bourgeois, weaver of memory and matter, of threads and thoughts, of wounds and mending. To take these pages as a starting point to narrate such a complex and intense figure carries deep meaning. Fabric and weaving are not only at the core of her art but the very rhythm of her thought: at times…
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FROM THREAD TO NEEDLE
Contemporary Embroidery Art | by izn | From Thread to Needle by Charlotte Vannier is the perfect book for anyone looking to grasp the state of contemporary embroidery art (as of 2019) in an empirical way—through the works of 82 artists, aged between 33 and 87, all active on the international scene. Each artist is given between 2 and 8 pages filled with large, bright, and detailed photographs showcasing their work. At the beginning of each section, there is a concise yet valuable artist profile—including birth date and place, current residence, and website—which I found particularly useful (and, in a way, reassuring). The book strikes the right balance between text…
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PROTEXT!
Weaving is a practice usually assigned to women, to children, to the more neglected social classes. However, it is also the practice which more than any other was altered by the industrial and capitalistic society. From the enclosure of domestic manufactures to the alienation caused by the factory work, it was indeed through needles and threads that these workers were able to externate their discomfort towards an unfair world. Protext! Quando il tessuto si fa manifesto (When fabric becomes a manifesto) is the book published in 2021 on occasion of the homonymous exhibition at the Centro per l’arte contemporanea Luigi Pecci, which presents eight artists: Serapis Maritime Corporation; Pia Camil;…
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“FRAGMENTATION AND REPAIR” BY SHELLEY RHODES
In the ever-evolving world of textile and mixed-media art, fragmentation and repair have emerged as pivotal themes, resonating deeply with contemporary artists. In her captivating book, Fragmentation and Repair, fiber artist Shelley Rhodes delves into these concepts with an insightful and thought-provoking approach, offering a wealth of innovative ideas and practical techniques. Drawing from her own artistic practice, Rhodes masterfully explores how materials such as cloth, paper, and found objects can be deconstructed and reassembled to create evocative, textured compositions. Her meticulous process is infused with emotional depth, transforming discarded fragments into works of art that celebrate imperfection and renewal. The book provides a comprehensive exploration of techniques ranging from…
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WEAVING THE WORLD: WRITING, WEAVING, AND THE THREAD OF NARRATIVES
| by Eleonora Giglione | Writing and weaving have always intertwined in a symbolic dialogue: both construct complex realities by interlacing diverse elements, whether words or threads. However, the textile metaphor is not merely literary; it has deep roots in mythology, history, and philosophy. Knots, nets, and weaves not only define the structure of a text but also connect to worldviews, politics, and the art of deception. Weaving, like writing, contains an element of ambiguity and artifice. A text, much like a woven fabric, is crafted with skill, strategy, and often with the intent to conceal meanings, deceive the eye, or create illusions. Weaving is frequently linked to the revelation…
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ENCHANTING. ISRE MUSEUM OF COSTUME IN NUORO
| by Susanna Cati | Is there a place where ‘material and immaterial’ traditions and modern history of an enire people converge into a single environment? There is, and it’s in Nuoro, in Sardinia, in a complex of buildings that houses the Museum of Life and Popular Sardinian Traditions, previously known as ISRE (Institute for Regional Ethnographic Studies), the most comprehensive ethnographic exhibition on the island. Built in the 1950s, after a major thematic revision and expansion works for structural and exhibition improvements, the Museum of Costume reopened to the public on December 19, 2015. This extraordinary cultural experience is divided into ten thematic rooms, offering a complete view of…
