Carbon Craft is an on-going exploration by Carl Cyrén of knitted carbon fibers meeting molten glass, of control meeting randomness, relocating carbon fibers from the high-tech world of racing cars and aeronautics to the intuitive world of craft. The skill of the glassblowers at the Glass Factory is challenged by the self-willed interaction between air bubbles and stitches: threads that stretch apart and pull together; glass that expands through the spaces in between, bulging to almost bursting point; and glass that is restraint by the tightness of the knitted web. Organic structures take shape, solidifying into glossy sculptures, reflecting the light and the space in the vicinity.

Carl Cyrén, (born 1989 in Sweden) graduated with a master’s degree in design from Konstfack in 2016 and considers himself more an industrial designer than an artist, producing his pieces in collaboration with skilled craftsmen. Fiberspace is pleased to be hosting this, his first solo exhibition. All the pieces are brand new, produced exclusively for this show. Carl has, in addition to working with white and clear glass that he has earlier worked with, experimented with coloured and transparent glass, creating some surprising effects.

OCCUPATION?
Currently working 60% as a cabinet maker and 40% as a freelance designer
WHAT DOES FIBER MEAN TO YOU?
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WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FIBER OR TEXTILE TECHNIQUE?
I must say carbon fiber and knitting. I really like the idea of working by hand on a material that is usually manufactured with great precision and expensive tooling.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST VIVID TEXTILE MEMORY?
My first visit to Textilhögskolan in Borås. They have such an amazing collection of textile materials and workshops with machines that I didn’t know existed. It was a completely new world for me.