Tanja Kirst — Friction In Between

LONG DESCRIPTION:

Friction In Between is part of an ongoing project where Tanja Kirst investigates how the familiar hemp plant can be transformed into durable and sustainable woven textiles. The fact that hemp requires little water, can be cultivated without fertiliser and it improves soil structure and adds nutrients as it grows – makes the hemp plant important in the aim for a more sustainable textile production.

The two Friction In Between rugs are hand woven with hemp yarn. Each thread consists of 50 thin threads spun together and dyed in bio colour. The construction is a flat weave with colour and weft effect. The composition in both rugs is a hybrid of vibrating, optical repetition and a flat and calm repeat. The systematically spaced lines create spaces within the two rugs that optically appear larger and smaller. The overall composition is the same in both rugs, only the line spacing is inverted. Hereby, the negative and positive space is put into play between the two rugs. The interplay and the Friction In Between, within the patternmaking between the rugs, transforms the rough and matte structure of the hemp yarn in a new way – creating a more vibrant approach.

Rugs sponsored by Massimo Copenhagen

DESIGNER BIO:

Tanja Kirst
Textile designer, b. 1988

Tanja Kirst’s work is characterized by reflection on thoughts and details that you don’t immediately recognize. This includes subtle colour transition and gradation into shades.

Both analogue and industrial, Kirst works with sustainability as a recurrent value. Her work is often based on an investigation on how weaving can interact with light, depending on how the light falls on the textiles and the vantage point. Kirst works across material scales where she balances simplicity with complexity, leaving space for nothingness and the space in between, in order to experience and reflect on the qualities and narratives of the raw material.

With interaction and observation, all the functions and details can be experienced over time. This experimental process and way of designing is developed with an intention to add more value to the textile – and to give a poetic approach and longevity to the product.

EDUCATION:

2018: Master of Fine Art specialization in Textile Design, The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Design. Copenhagen, Denmark.
2017: Selected student – Comon Creativity Sharing in Como, Italy.
2017: Textiel Museum – Textiellab. Product Development Assistant – Weaving Department. Tilburg, Holland.
2015: Exchange – Osaka Seikei University. Osaka, Japan.
2013: Bachelor (HONS) Fine Art Painting and Printmaking, The Glasgow School of Art. Glasgow, Scotland.
2012: Exchange – Beaux-arts de Paris, l’école nationale supérieure. Paris, France.

SELECTED COLLABORATIONS:

2020: Commissioned works for Massimo Copenhagen

SELECTED GRANTS AND HONOURS:

2019: The Josef & Anni Albers Foundation, Thread Artists’ Residency, Senegal, Africa
2019: Finalist Young Talent at Danish Design Award
2018: Winner of Talent of the year – Design Awards 2018
2018: Danmarks Nationalbank Jubilæumsfond Scholarship

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:

2019: ‘Arket og solen’ (The ark and the sun), Huset i Asnæs, Denmark
2018: ‘Beautiful X Sustainable’, Lokomotivværkstedet, Copenhagen, Denmark
2017: ‘Collapsible’ Kyoto Institute of Technology. Kyoto, Japan.

Website:

https://tanjakirst.com

Instagram:

@tanjakirst