Itajime is a traditional Japanese shape-resist dyeing technique involving folding and clamping. In this group show; featuring Barbara Berther (BB), Elsa Chartin (EC), Karin Lundgren Tallinger (KLT), Eva Marmbrandt (EM) and Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada (YIW); the technique is explored and interpreted, pushing the boundaries of the traditional and the expected. The opening of the exhibition will be preceded by a pecha kucha presentation by each artist, 3 December at 15.00.

Yoshiko I. Wada is invited to Sweden as part of Iaspis Visiting Expert Programme 21 November – 7 December 2015. Iaspis is the Swedish Arts Grants Committee’s international programme for practitioners in visual and applied arts. Ms Wada is an artist, author, exhibition curator, textile researcher and film producer. She has long been an exponent of traditional and sustainable practices in fashion and textile production. She is also the president of the World Shibori Network and founder of Slow Fiber Studios, so it’s a treat to have her exhibit one of her shibori pieces at Fiberspace. The exhibition has been curated by textile designer, Åsa Pärson.
OCCUPATION?
BB: Fiber artist
EC: Artist, designer, teacher
KLT: Artist
EM: Artist, designer, educator
YIW: Artist, Curator, President of World Shibori Network
WHAT DOES FIBER MEAN TO YOU?
BB: At birth, enveloped in the first non­flesh experience, if not all but most of us have been sensitized by some form of fiber wrap. An ultimate material for me to comprehensively express my creative and artistic attitudes, a material that never fails to generate an indescribable warmth for me!
EC: Attention.
KLT: Origin and propagation, like a woven fabric – a fantastic invention long before the wheel.
EM: Fiber is the material’s lowest common denominator and effects everything: sound, light and space.
YIW: Essential material for creative thinking process through material inquiry and physical manipulation of pliable materials.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FIBER OR TEXTILE TECHNIQUE?
BB: My preferred fiber, mixed fibers. Ever since my student days at Konstfack my fiber narrative has been 3D. Having accumulated fundamental knowledge of textiles, weaving, printing and sculpturing fibers I have ultimately found salvation in shibori, thousands of years old Japanese dyeing technique and applications, my fundamental fascination of its brilliance, not to allow its enforcer to have the ultimate command over its fluid characteristics.
EC: I am more interested in the expression given by the technique than the technique itself. Although I can find the gestures breathtaking.
KLT: Hand-sewing fabric
EM: Processing the material to create three-dimensional structures and interesting surfaces.
YIW: Depends on what I am pursuing at the moment and depends on what inspires me.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST VIVID TEXTILE MEMORY?
BB: To create and materialize the biggest tapestry in Switzerland in 1977, it was not only a pivotal but a distinctive land mark in my textile memories, to force a break away from the traditional HAND TUFTING techniques and to test its boundaries was an ultimate creative satisfaction. A memory to be cherished for rest of my life. A 3D and 40 square meters tapestry for a large conference room at Swiss Television Headquarters in Zurich.
EC: Hiding in my mothers wardrobe as a child. Being enveloped with fabric. 
KLT: The clothes that my mother made ​​for me as a child. I remember the counter in fabric shop; the measuring stick; the fragrance and walking along the roll and while letting my fingers stroke the fabrics until I willed myself to choose one of them . Then the tacking thread; the needles and the sound of the scissors on it’s way around the pattern pieces . And finally the finished garments, an orange velveteen suit or a light-blue club blazer with an emblem and golden buttons.
EM: How the sun filters through a thin curtain, creating patterns and shadows on the wall.
YIW: Putting on a starched yukata (summer kimono) with a help from Grandmother and running to join the Bon dance festival in town. I can still remember the rustling sound of long sleeves. Also, hand stitching elaborate clothes for our doll Katherine given to us by our German Catholic priest.
FIND OUT MORE
elsachartin.com
karinlundgren-tallinger.se
marmbrandt.se
yoshikowada.com