At the center of the exhibition are three large-scale sculptural objects knit from post-consumer plastic on special wooden tools made by the artist. The knitted pieces are based on the concept of “second skin,” such as clothing, architecture or environment that extends one’s existence. Here Markle playfully explores the absurd notion of a humanless fashion system to challenge late capitalist consumption patterns and human-centric ideas of identity.
According to the artist, fashion is by nature a form of projected nostalgia – a remembrance of things to come, simultaneously impossible yet very real. It is (dis)located somewhere between utopian and dystopian futures but never comes to rest easily in either realm. It is this tension inherent to fashion that makes it suited for investigating different ways of being. Knitting as a craft and tool for garment making consists of a series of repeated loops and is often based on a pattern of symbols that can be related to the language used by computing systems. This exhibition speculates on the persistence of craft and its ability to communicate with future forms of intelligence.
Gary Markle is a Canadian artist, researcher and educator based in Tallinn and Helsinki, whose practice examines the intersection of cloth, costume and performance. He holds a BFA in Fashion from Parsons School of Design, New York City and an MFA in Craft from NSCAD University, Halifax. Markle has participated in many performances and exhibitions internationally; his research and creation provide a site for solo artistic explorations and collaborations with other artists, cultural communities and environments. Most recently, he contributed to the group exhibition „Pikem suhe – A Long Engagement ” at Kondas Centre, Viljandi (curator: Marta Konovalov). Currently, Markle works as an Associate Professor of Craft in the Textiles/Fashion Department at NSCAD University and is a Doctor of Arts candidate at Aalto University, where his practice-led design research investigates the question: Do we make craft or does craft make us?
More info about the artist: www.garymarkle.com
Curator: Kulla Laas
Graphic design: Diandra Rebase
Sound design: Brandon Auger