Estonian textile artists in Cloth & Culture NOW

29.01.2008

The exhibition Cloth & Culture NOW is a major new initiative, bringing together 35 artists from Estonia, Finland, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania and the UK.

Textile has played an important role in the cultural identity of these countries and each of the artists is using that textile history to investigate the importance of specific cultural identity and trans-cultural influences in their work. Estonian artists include Mare Kelpman, Katrin Pere, Kadri Viires, Krista Leesi and Aune Taamal.

Most of the selected artists have made new work for the exhibition, reflecting the social, political and utilitarian history of textile within the context of shifting experiences of culture and tradition. These works include the contemporary use of traditional techniques and materials: knit, tapestry, embroidery, felt making, plus explorations of new materials and technology, large architectural installations, performance work, video, narrative based textiles, decorative textiles.

Cloth & Culture NOW opens at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, University of East Anglia, on 29th January 2008 until 1st June 2008 and then tours to the Whitworth Art Gallery, University of Manchester in the Autumn of 2008, followed by venues in participating countries during 2009.

Estonian artists' statements

www.clothandculturenow.com