Signe Emdal is a Danish fiber artist based in Copenhagen. Her atelier, Emdal Studio, makes unique knit and woven fabric commissions, scarves and blanked, and research based fiber art and ornamental designs. She creates amazing tapestries and textiles that explore landscapes and themes from everyday life. She also has a line of one-of-a-kind scarves called “A World Hug.” These scarves feature soft merino wool yarns and a special loop “lock” in the front. Signe uses a mix of both traditional techniques and cutting edge technology to create her pieces. I chatted with her recently to get to know a little more about her background and work.
Can you tell me a little about yourself?
I grew up in the outskirts of Copenhagen in a rather dull villa area. All holidays my parents would take my brothers & I to the sea where my grandparents lived with spectacular ocean views. My parents were also sailors ( like the rest of the family ) so we sailed around in the Danish water sites, visiting islands in the summer time. Every day a new harbor to explore, new kids to hang out with!
I studied at a design university in Denmark and specialized in knitted flexible material constructions 5 years and graduated in 2007. Along the way I tried many methods of textile constructions, but I fell in love with Jacquard, which is basically the principle of building fiber material in layers. I found comfort in this technique because it seemed to have equal amounts of flexibility (freedom) and framework (stability).
Since graduating, I have been working in contemporary concepts with industrial knitting and weaving.
What attracted you to working with fibers/fabrics?
As a young girl, I always enjoyed creating poetic color combinations with various materials… feeling everything and creating physical items that seemed to be very precious to people. So I kept doing what felt natural and started my own project right after graduation. I was finally free to do whatever I wanted in my own pace!
With every project or material, I build layers of ambience like a musician or architect. I consider factors like: Light/shadow, shiny/matte, soft/hard, scale, function, sustainability, tactility, ambience, color, identity, feelings, structures.
Can you speak a little about your process?
I’ve never really seen myself as an “artist”… I think I’m more like an explorer of landscapes and movement. To me the important thing is to create and expand the relationship I have with my “invisible muses.” I don’t have much words for when they arrive… I guess some writers have the same experience…. Sometimes the muses “take over” and I feel a powerful feeling of gratitude in my body.
There’s basically 3 parts (I call them “gardens”) to Emdal Studio.
1) Research based fiber art
2) “A World Hug” (scarves and Blankets)
3) Fabric and ornament commissions and collaborations
When i’m doing fiber art, I mostly follow my “invisible muses” and I also do a lot of analogue photography to help me bring out ideas, as well as to document color inspirations.
Later on, when I turn on the actual textile machinery and fibers, I get more rational and technical, thinking about fits of the fabric, fiber construction and what a specific function might need.
When I’m making art for shows, I like to translate landscapes into fiber art. This can be both inner or outer landscapes, without too many words or descriptions, which allows the viewer to their own interpretations.
What has been inspiring you lately? Are there any current artists that you enjoy following?
My greatest idol is the Danish architecht Jørn Utzon. He created beautiful spectacular spaces and buildings for people to live and work inside of. I love the way he combined his daily family-life and work life, with light and love.
What would your dream project be?
One dream is to create tactile soft acustic materials and collaborate with partners around ambience. Another dream is to show my work at the Italien HOMO FABER event in Venice 2020 and hopefully meet gallery partners and start interdiciplinary projects. My biggest dream though, is to have a kind and creative family of my own!
What’s next for you?
This year I’ll be exploring a new technique I call “Touch” that involves a hybrid of techniques. I also bought a new loom and I have a series of artist-residencies planned out to inspire more creations.
I’ll also keep making WORLD HUG scarves regularly and run my online shop updates every month. I usually make about 10 -one of a kind- scarves for each update. Next one is a little special cause it’s A SUMMER HUG.
Check out more of Signe’s work and pieces available via the Emdal Studio online shop and website here.