NAC launches European textile art exhibit

The Nordic Contemporary Art Center earlier this month launched a northern European traditional textile art exhibition entitled The Fabric of Belonging. The exhibit runs through October 27. The exhibition is headlined by the textile art of Nina Maria Kleivan (Norway), Hjordis Haack (Faroe Islands) and Bent Hedeby Sorensen (Denmark).
The exhibition also features invited artists such as Tong Wang, Su Ru Ya, Hu Yating, Deng Manman, Zhang Yatao, He Xi and Wang Jiao. Curator Lan Lan said that the diversity of works is a demonstration of the range and innovation of textile art.
Additionally, Danish pianist and composer Julie Hjeltland and Rune Solvang add musical elements to the exhibition, adding an audible layer to the exhibition.

The exhibition is supported by S.C. Van Fonden and the Tallbacken Art Center. The center described the exhibit as a display of traditional Nordic textile art and an exploration of cultural exchange and artistic innovation.
Danish artist Bent Hedeby Sorensen delivered a speech at the exhibit's opening ceremony. “Though we cannot speak Chinese when travelling around Xiamen, our unique national costumes serve as a non-verbal symbol of our culture and identity,” he said.
The exhibit includes a suite of photos taken by the three headlined artists in Xiamen during their visit. In the photos, the trio adopt farcical gestures and poses. “Absurdity is a crucial part of art,” said Lan Lan. Lan Lan noted that the juxtaposition of traditional Nordic outfits and Xiamen's scenery constitutes a powerful image of cultural exchange.
The three Nordic artists are currently travelling the world to promote their project. Despite the rigors of lengthy travel, the artists remain enthusiastic about communicating through art with different people.
This passion for sharing work with a wider audience is shared by artists such as Zhang Yixuan, a professional Inner Mongolian costume designer. Ms. Zhang said that she is deeply motivated by a desire to demonstrate the beauty of traditional clothing to a wider audience.
In an era when apparel is increasingly homogenized around the world, this trio of Nordic artists are committed to seeking a sense of identity and belonging through traditional textiles. “People around the world are mostly wearing the same [clothing] but we'd like to use our clothes as a language for identity and belonging,” said Mr. Sorensen.

Source：CommonTalk（Xiamen Daily）