Travelogue 1: Mental Landscapes
A-finity collective
6–22.11.2014
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Travelogue is a visual narration of a journey. It unravels a research process as a mental landscape, which starts from imagining patterns, is followed by encounters that interlock shared experiences and ends up in reflections of weaving practices together. Helsinki-based textile collective, A-finity, did a three-week research trip to Japan in April-May 2014. The aim of the journey was to familiarise this Finnish-Japanese collective with the unique Japanese textile traditions and to learn new techniques through collaborations and studio visits. During the trip the members of the collective were faced with the contemporary struggles of textile industries in Japan, where companies are constantly shut down as all production is being transferred to China. However, the collective was amazed to discover that regardless of these struggles many agents in textile field are still working upstream and continue to work with century-long traditions, reinventing their techniques with open-mindedness and experimental attitude. Travelogue exhibition maps out the mental landscape of the collective, before and after the trip. Conversations that took place throughout the journey, are materialised as woven textiles and as a pattern story installation. The textile art pieces present a dialogue in the form of woven fabrics and art prints both inspired by the techniques explored and stories heard while traveling. A-finity is a Helsinki-based design collective established in 2014 by Anna Alanko, Anna-Mari Leppisaari and Aoi Yoshizawa that seeks to explore the possibilities of textile as a medium. They specialise in textile and fashion design, with a focus on surface, material and colour design as well as on creative collaborations. For A-finity textile is an inseparable part of everyday inspiration and in their designs they combine traditional craftsmanship with contemporary innovations and unrestrained creativity. |
As a Finnish-Japanese collective they aim to create community around textile making. With a strong emphasis on teamwork A-finity sees collaboration as a way to discover new perspectives and ideas – to find beauty and magic in the mundane. The trio met while studying fashion and textile design in Aalto University the School of Arts, Design and Architecture and have since been bonded by their love of weaving, tackiness and Bollywood dancing. Travelogue is supported by Finnish Cultural Foundation and realised in collaboration with a Kyoto-based textile studio, Tamiya Raden. http://a-finity.fi/ Opening hours on week 45: Vernissage on Thursday, 6.11. at 19-21. Friday, 7.11. at 17-20 Saturday, 8.11. at 14-18 (Travelogue conversation at 15.00) Sunday, 9.11. at 14-18 Exhibition is open every week from Thursday to Sunday, opening hours for weeks 46 & 47 will be announced later on. Facebook event ---- During the exhibition: Travelogue conversation on Saturday, 8.11. at 15-16 Restaurant day treats on Saturday, 15.11. at 12-14 Closing party on Saturday 22.11. at 19-21. Welcome! |
