Fabric-ated Mural

Fabric = 1. cloth, textile, material

2. the walls, floor and roof of a building: “decay and neglect are slowly eating away at the building’s fabric”

Fabricated = to invent (something) in order to deceive

Mural = a painting or other work of art executed directly on a wall

For quite a few years I have been collecting images of different wall surfaces, which I have found to be excellent colour combinations, like accidental pieces of art. I have posted these photos on Instagram using hashtags #wallspotting and #accidentalart.

I have mimicked these surfaces by using textiles. Some of the fabrics have been dyed with natural dyes, like turmeric and red cabbage, and will fade over time. The raw edges and threads have been left unfinished to remind that things are always changing.

On one hand the title Kerrostumia/Layers, points to the textile and embroidery layers which I work with. Because I only use recycled materials, to me it feels like it adds to the dimensions and history of the pieces: the history started long before the material ever ended up in my hands.

On the other hand Kerrostumia/Layers means the passing of time, first through the reference images (chipped walls, peeling off and painting on) and secondly through the making process, how long it takes to make these artworks.

This project has been supported by the Arts Promotion Centre Finland.