Finding Comfort in Discomfort

Floating Around Amongst the Grounded. An Investigation into Comfort and Discomfort.

With this collection of textile art pieces I was able to rebuilt and redefine my affinity with my practice - print design - following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and as a result of that the closure and inaccessibility of the, for my work vital, print workshop facilities. A central part of my concept was the aspect of the relationship between me and my work, as well as my surroundings and how I define comfort and discomfort. This time of standstill that went along with the pandemic was accompanied by feelings of groundlessness, loneliness, floating and doubting of myself and my practice - discomfort - that forced me to critically reflect on the works I have been creating in the recent past. It was about reassessing whether I could still identify with them and ultimately trying to remember my motives to create and make in the first place.

By subjecting myself to this discomfort, making peace with it, I ultimately was able to return to a state of comfort and experimental joy in my practice and in these uncertain times. 

During this period of discomfort and loneliness I found connection to other individuals through exchanging about my subject matter: comfort and discomfort. Those exchanges turned into interviews that would form the foundation and source of inspiration for my project and this collection of textile pieces. Each individual piece of work represents one person that was so kind to open up to and be vulnerable towards me about their individual of comfort, discomfort, loneliness and isolation. 

Fundamentally „Finding Comfort in Discomfort - Floating Around Amongst the Grounded. An Investigation into Comfort and Discomfort.“ was a way for me to reconnect with my environment, my friends and family through collaboration at a time where forced isolation had replaced companionship as well as resurrect my love for my practice.

For this collection I worked on neoprene and with self-dyed wool. Techniques include screen printing, dyeing, machine and hand embroidery and quilting and finishes such as vinyl. Further materials used as finishes are grommets and eyelets, buttons and ropes.