Loose Threads: Unfinished Sentences in Cloth

In the hands of a textile artist, threads become more than materials — they are pathways to different worlds, carrying stories that bridge cultures, landscapes, and moments in time. Artists like Signe Emdal, Riikka Peltola, and Vânia Reichartz invite us on a journey through weaving, knitting, and stitching. Each piece they create is like an open door, waiting for us to step through and explore the tales woven into fabric.

Threads are often left intentionally loose in their work, like unfinished sentences that keep us wondering. These loose ends invite us to look closer, ask questions, and imagine the stories still unfolding. For these artists, threads aren’t just materials — they are living connections that draw us into layered stories and emotions, inviting us to feel the depth and texture of their evolving worlds.

For Danish artist Signe Emdal, threads are lifelines to the places and emotions that inspire her. She doesn’t just see landscapes; she feels them, carrying their essence back to the loom. Whether in the wild, raw beauty of Iceland or the sun-dappled shores of Italy, Emdal travels with her loom, watercolours, and an old analogue camera to capture atmosphere. Each thread she weaves is like a note in a song, harmonising to convey a place’s energy.

My Little Icelandic Pony, Signe Emdal, 2018.

One of her works, My Little Icelandic Pony, created during her residency at the Icelandic Textile Center, is more than a piece of art. It’s a tribute to Iceland’s sweeping plains and their silent yet powerful presence. She describes herself as a “textile composer,” crafting images and feelings. Her threads respond to movement, air, and light, making her pieces feel alive and inviting viewers to step into her world...

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Image Credits:

Lead Image: Signe Emdal, Dreams of Gaia, 2024.

All other images as credited in photo captions.