Material Memory/Textile

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Material Memory/Textile  2012

Site-specific light installation made from microscope photographs of Viking Age archaeological textile finds from a cemetary in Fittja, a suburb to Stockholm.The artefacts were removed at the excavation of the area in the 1970:ies, when the large housing complexes within the so called “Million Programme” were constructed in order to meet the demands of the growing population in Sweden. The fragments are made of wool produced in the area, in the weaving technique twill. They were preserved due to contact with a silver brooch.

I enlarged the microscope photo of a very small textile fragment from the garment of the deceased person of feminine gender, once living in the area. A few millimeters of textile fibers were transformed into a monumental light installation, placed at the site of the former grave.

Textile finds are by tradition not considered important. Here I let them step up and stand out in a feminist artistic action. By the act of this art work I give the removed material memory back to the landscape.