FELT TALES @KANVAS FESTIVAL

This exhibition was held in Stavanger in September-November 2024. The venue was the abandoned Fire House, which will later be demolished. The location affected my artwork and I aimed to create a room referencing the temporariness of abandoned places and nostalgia. Creating the wool pieces took 5 days, I worked between 10-23 to be able to fill the room with different pieces.

To explore ideas of homecoming, I created an exaggerated grandmother’s room, reimagining what happens with the granddaughter returning home. By this, I aimed to highlight the tension between nostalgia and the present, capturing a space that exists between the comfort of home and the uncertainty of being a nomad, enhancing the experience with wool's scent and texture. The use of wool and textiles in the piece symbolizes the unrecognized labor of women, and the neglect of wool material. In Norway, Rogaland has the largest sheep population and the most wool sorting stations. But about %80 of the raw wool in Norway is exported. Together with the textiles I made, I wanted to bring attention to this by showing leftover wool from sheep all over the room, and create the experience together with the smell, soft feel of the wool. I mostly used leftover, raw wool through the room, contrasting them with small chunks of colored/processed wool.

Most of the room's furnishings are sourced from the fire station and donated furniture, further emphasizing transition and repurposing themes. The wool furnishings on the tables, floor and sofa were made by me. The wall hanging, curtains, furniture and carpets were donated or found at the fire station. The mural on the window was created by the graffiti art duo Arsek & Erase, which was originally painted on the building outskirts. From the inside, the mural also contributes to the visual aesthetics of the room, resembling an old stained glass.

Thanks to Kanvas Festival 2024 organizers, and @profilbilde_fotografen for the photos.