Veslemøy Lilleengen, Norsk Bauta – Trøndelag (2021), installasjon. Foto: Vegard Kleven / NBK. Find out why these indigo-dyed t-shirts make a political point.
By Robbie LaFleur
I was asked by the editor of Vesterheim Magazine, the print magazine published by Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, to write an article about textile artists in Norway who work with political themes. It would be part of a special issue focusing on textiles. But only three pages! Only three images! Paring down both the number of artists and the number of images was the hardest part.
In the end, I focused on three artists with thought-provoking projects: Veslemøy Lilleengen, Elisabeth Haarr, and Åse Helene Fidje Ødegaard. This is the introductory paragraph from “To the Point, with Textiles“:
Clothing, fabric, yarn – textiles in general evoke domestic, decorative, and protective associations. But what about t-shirts as a feminist statement about the art world? Blankets and guns? Norwegian national costumes and plastic pollution? Here are three contemporary Norwegians who have used everyday and traditional textiles to underscore important issues. Artworks in textile techniques can pack a political punch, partly because they work against expectations: a layer of surprise is added when the serious intent is revealed.
Please enjoy the full article: “To the Point, with Textiles”.
Vesterheim Magazine, Vol. 19, No. 2, 2021
There are other textile-related articles in this special issue titled Dressed, which can be ordered from the Vesterheim Store. Order Dressed.
Carol Colburn and Laurann Gilbertson. “Is the Old Shoemaker Still with You?” After reading this article about immigrants and shoes, you will feel so thankful for your modern shoes!
Denise Logaland. “Bunad: Clothing + Intention. The form and function of Norway’s historically based costumes have changed over time.” It includes an informative one-page breakdown of the five types of bunad.
Laura Ricketts. “Everyday Mittens.” (Laura is a popular knitting instructor at Vesterheim Folk Art School.)
Jane Addams. “The Lessons in Between.” This lovely essay on knitting includes these lines. “In our present day, knitting is considered a hobby, but in my family just one generation ago, it was a necessity. If someone needed socks or a sweater, they had to be made. If there was a hole, it had to be mended. If something no longer fit and was not needed, it was unraveled and the yarn re-straightened to be used again. Knitted garments at the very end of their lifespan were sold for recycling at the shoddy mills and the money spent immediately on new yarn. The lifespan of a garment could last for generations. I carry this history with me most carefully, aware that these practices are long gone but with the fervent hope that we may return to them.”