By means of tiny holes puncturing hand-shaped vessels, Stockholm-based artist Caroline Harrius (beforehand) embroiders delicate designs. She merges two distinct crafts—ceramics and fiber artwork—that don’t sometimes share a lot in widespread, exploring relationships between type and performance, ornament and utility, and traditionally gendered artisanal practices.
Harrius opens a solo present this month titled Blue Recollections at Kaolin in Stockholm, the end result of a three-month residency she undertook in Porsgrunn, Norway, after being awarded the municipality’s porcelain grant. This system includes a collaborative effort between the native porcelain manufacturing unit and Kunsthall Grenland to assist modern artistry within the materials.
“The meeting between textile and ceramics is irrational and full of resistance,” Harrius says in an announcement for the exhibition. She frolicked on the Porsgruns Porcelain Manufacturing facility with free reign to broaden on present concepts and apply new inspiration.
“Next to the workshop was an antique dealer with rows of boxes marked ’10 SEK for everything!,’ filled with objects,” she says. From these trinkets, which the supplier had deemed virtually nugatory, Harrius imagined new floral designs.
“I embroider in porcelain with cotton thread in an attempt to recontextualize the crafts,” she says. “I want to make an attempt to highlight all the precious and impressive craft objects that are often left behind within the walls of the home, continue to challenge hierarchies in the field, and make visible traditional female craftsmanship.”
Blue Recollections runs from January 11 to 26. See extra on the artist’s web site and Instagram.
