Handmade happiness
Who can
remember the crocheted works created by
grandmother's clever hands?
Hours and
hours spent bending on the thread network; it appears as an image definitely bound to the past, but it has become more relevant than
ever.
The Japanese
artist Toshiko Horiuchi Macadam , has raised this ancient passion to a monumental and playful art. The
traditional simplicity of this act of hers helped her to overcome the tragedy
her people had to face after the second world war. Her big cobweb sculptures
are a blaze of color and energy;
her webs are spaces celebrating life, conviviality, enjoyment, amusement and
relaxation.
Each
stitch is tied to another one and is functional to the following one and each
gesture produces a chain of movements that motivate the whole work. This idea of connection is
the base of her artistic philosophy:
each of us is connected with the rest of the
planet, in a strong and absolutely necessary link.
To be
able to enter in deep contact with her own spirit, the artist creates interactive installations
that everyone can live and touch. The work
made in Rome is a real playground where not only kids can give vent to
their wish for color and joy.
Unfortunately
it isn't easy to take home a piece by this wonderful artist, but here are some
others who, like her, love knitting.
Christien
Meindertsma a designer from Rotterdam, makes
beautiful poufs, completely handmade by means of giant needles. They are realized using
100% New Zealand wool, and each pouf is
provided with a card identifying the sheep the
wool has been taken from.
Her pieces have become a
must have of interior design and draw the attention of connoisseurs and laymen alike.
Melanie
Porter is a designer with a passion for knitting, and creates objects and fittings with extralarge
threads. She makes the smallest details of her pieces carefully.
To be
able to work with a technique is not enough, you also have to be able to combine shapes and colors in an effective and interesting way,
and you must admit that such an elaborate surface, realized in classic colors, is really a
successful coupling.
The
beautiful sack chairs by Aleksandra Gaca, are
made by means of a particular technique that gives tridimensionality to
the surface. Besides the manufacturing mastery, a special attention has
been paid to the yarn, chosen among the best merino wool.
Of course
fashion is changing now and very many designers are becoming specialists in
this kind of work: you have to keep an eye on the new
rising stars.
stay tuned!
