Tilleke Schwarz is a Dutch contemporary embroiderer who knows the rules of traditional embroidery and breaks them. Beware of Embroidery is an overview of some her textile work exhibited in a solo-exhibition in 2001. Tilleke Schwarz employs traditional imagery, icons and symbols twisting them to speak of contemporary life. Politics, technology, and communication are themes in her work. Pieces are hand embroidered on linen yet they do not display the tight control over process that you often find in many hand embroidery. Her stitchery is used as if stitchery is a graphic mark – something that you do not see often and is difficult to do. In Rites Tilleke Schwarz has made use of fragments of text from what appears to be a journal, computer screen shot contrasting these with traditional sampler motifs. All her pieces capture aspects of contemporary visual culture.
I wish more of her work was online and while I am wishing I may as well add some really good close ups would be great too.
Dear Sharon,
I read about your wishes thru google and found your website.
You almost make me feel quilty about not having a website etc. In the future I certainly will. Recently I am no longer in the phase of rejection. Now the website idea is considered a possible future project. However it also means work and I am no good in dealing with computers (Murphy certainly will come along etc.). In order to cheer you up I have tried to include a picture. However I do not see a possibility for an attachment (maybe Murphy again?).
Fun to realize that at the other end of the world someone is interested in my work. Maybe you know that I visited Australia twice and lectured and tutored workshops at a few of these world famous Textile Fibre Forums managed by Janet de Boer and her crew from TAFTA. So sometimes there is a bit more to see of my work. I expect you are familiar with these wonderful Textile Fibre Forums and are a member of TAFTA?
Best regards,
Tilleke Schwarz