Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Scandinavian Culture – Sweden
Prints and patterns
Singularity. Faig Ahmed, 2016. Image courtesy of Faig Ahmed Studio.
– from an old factory to the urban space of Borås The Swedish town of Borås has been a textile mecca for a long time now, but in September this year it will overflow with textile art as the Crossover festival kicks off. As part of the festival, world-renowned visual artist and sculptor Faig Ahmed brings an exhibition of new work to the Textile Museum of Sweden – a first in many regards. By Linnea Dunne
“He doesn’t answer questions – he asks them,” says curator Medeia Ekner about the Azerbaijan artist who has been ranked as one of the world’s ten most interesting textile artists right now. This will be the first time his work is shown in the Nordic countries, and the exhibition Equation sees him try out new, unfamiliar methods. “He’s not a textile artist in a traditional sense, but a sculptor and contemporary artist who works a lot with performance and video, and he’s fascinated by psychological states and identities,” Ekner continues, adding that Equation explores patterns, symbols and rituals in oriental rugs. “He breaks up and distorts patterns and conquers them, marrying rug craft with contemporary art, thereby challenging our view of traditions and what craft really is.” Complementing Ahmed’s textile art, the exhibition will display sound and video installations. “The spectator will not just 54 | Issue 98 | March 2017
it will be an exciting year for the textile capital of Sweden – and with no better organiser than the Textile Museum of Sweden, housed in the lauded Textile Fashion Center in an old factory steeped in textile production history.
gain an understanding of the artist’s inner world, but hopefully also start to think about their own,” says Ekner.
A true textile capital When the Crossover festival kicks off properly on 12 September, it will take over not just the museum but the entire town, working with eight satellite venues including the urban space. Together with Borås Municipality, the Textile Museum of Sweden will host the European Textil Network’s conference, expected to attract around 500 visitors from across the continent. “We’re hugely proud to be able to present Lidewij Edelkoort as keynote speaker,” Ekner enthuses. “This definitely won’t go unnoticed for anyone in the creative industries.” The whole event coincides with the ceremony of the Nordic Award in Textiles, the biggest textile art award in the Nordics, and the work of the winner will be exhibited at the Abecita Art Museum. All in all,
Photo: Anna Sigge
2017 at the Textile Museum of Sweden:
Shapes of Fashion – Nordic Artwear: until 26 March 2017 New Nordic Fashion Illustration: until 7 May 2017 Equation by Faig Ahmed: 6 May to 24 Sep 2017 Crossover – Textile Art Festival: 12-19 Sep 2017
For more information, please visit: www.textilmuseet.se