19.–27. 10. 2024
Dutch Design Week, Microlab Hall, Kastanjelaan 400, Eindhoven, Netherlands
How can we bring traditional European wool back into the limelight, which is being replaced by finer merino? The Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design in Prague (UMPRUM) is presenting its latest project at Dutch Design Week in the Netherlands, raising questions about how to bring these natural resources back into the spotlight and help revive a neglected material.
In a joint interdisciplinary research project, the Textiles and the K.O.V. (concept, object, meaning) Studio focused on local sheep fleece, its properties, social context, and the possibilities of its use. The motivation was not only the topic of sustainability but also the awareness that Czech wool is often destroyed instead of used. "We wanted to capture a theme resonating in the textile "world" for some time. It's not just about the Czech Republic, we know that the shift away from local wool has been plaguing more European countries for a long time. We were so intrigued by the topic that we decided to explore it ourselves in academia with the idea that we could bring more awareness to society about this issue, which could start to be communicated more actively. As we have already mentioned, we are not the only ones interested in this topic and the search for a solution to the problem. For the continuation of the project, we have teamed up with other enthusiastic partners - the Dutch Design Academy Eindhoven and the Swedish Konstfack College", Linda Kaplanová, Head of the Textile Studio, introduces the project and its future with Tadeáš Podracky, Head of the K.O.V. Studio.
The two studios mentioned above grasped the theme as a common opportunity to change the perception of Czech wool. After a comprehensive study of the entire issue, the students brought several diverse projects and proposals that rethink the view of Czech wool, offering additional processing or perceiving it as a medium for better communicating social issues and sustainability.
Wool, its qualities, and possibilities are being explored in numerous areas - from health and education to the ability to tell stories, store water, and irrigate plants. Some of the works illustrate problematic moments in the global wool market, others open up new perspectives on the issue in the form of speculative projects, and still others look for new ways to use wool in product design.
The VLNA exhibition at Dutch Design Week will present a total of 9 projects, which at first glance are very diverse, but they are united by a common theme, namely a sustainable approach and an interest in reusing European wool in people's lives.
Creative workshops are also included in the exhibition program. The first is based on the exhibited project "Can a mole have a bed made of wool?", which includes children from the first grade in primary school. Playfully, it introduces them to the issue of wool, its properties, and its uses. In addition to the theoretical part, it is used in various creative tasks. The second workshop offers visitors the opportunity to make a small box for growing plants using the felting method.
Detailed information about the project: https://www.are.na/vlna-umprum/channels
Exhibitors:
Studio of Textiles: Kristýna Hnídková, Daniela Rychlá, Zuzana Kotrbová, Eliška Gogolová, Jan Petrů, Denisa Salontayova, Kristina Anežka Hlavinková, Sara Szyndler, Laura Sofía Diaz Torres, The K.O.V. Studio: Irena Krištofová, Maximilian Felice Helia, Dorian Komárků, Barbora Tetaurová, Šimon Nemec, Jana Novotná, Dita Koubek, Simona Svitková, and Sofia Artemeva.
Pedagogical leadership: Linda Kaplanová, Tadeáš Podracký, Martin Pondělíček, and Romana Drdová.
Graphic design: Sara Szyndler, and Terezie Puršlová.
Installation concept: Sofia Artemeva, and Miloslav Chytil.
Curatorial text: Tereza Vernerová Volná
Photography: Tomáš Zumr, and Eda Babák.
The partner of the exhibition is ČEZ Group.
Thanks for the cooperation: Faculty of Textile Engineering TU Liberec, Linda Havrlíková, Weaving factory Kubák Strmilov, k.s.
