Elles Lanfer

DIALOGUE

Where one thread connects to another

or where one linear element crosses a second,

where fibres overlap and twist,

actively bind or slide over and under each other,

and where a simple knot or loop

manages to hold a network of threads,

interwoven, entangled, fused —

I pause and marvel

at how a textile comes into being.

Sheila Hicks

DIALOGUE is an exercise in letting go and embracing the unexpected. In my work, I try not to cling to a fixed narrative, but rather to be guided by my associations. This creates a dialogue—a dialogue between my head and hands. By working with peace and attention, space is created to allow these associations, as well as doubt and experimentation, to emerge and translate them into images. By improvising, I learn to deal with the chance that arises and respond to the thoughts that spontaneously arise.

I transform this into a visual narrative—cloth over cloth, thread over thread—letting the power of the thread tell my story. In this work, I explore the tension between nostalgia, identity, and memories. My muse, the radiant centre, resides somewhere between my longing, memory, and thoughts. The more I listen, the more clearly she expresses herself to me. An invitation to reflect on what we remember, what we let go of, and how we carry our past with us.