Art brings people, traditions and skills together

36 artists from China, South Korea and Japan for Asia, and from European countries – Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom – present their most recent works in an intercultural dialogue where weaves, fibres, techniques and textures intertwine.

In addition to the raw material, the working process is of great importance. The techniques used are often simple: weaving, sewing, embroidery, twisting, knotting, cutting or gluing. The points of convergence are the repetition, the slow rhythm and the time devoted to the making of the work. Focusing on one’s own world, in this case a world created by the material, the technique and the resulting artwork, often leads to philosophical reflections on issues such as the intersection of materiality and spirituality, values, the environment and nature. The artists participating in Asia-Europe 5 have a solid knowledge of traditional techniques used in the textile art and art industries, yet the exhibition demonstrates that they also have the ability to develop new and unique artworks, both visually and technically.

Nature as a universal source of wonder and inspiration

Nature is the main source of creativity for most artists. It can serve as inspiration on many levels. Artists use natural materials or organic elements such as the roots of leeks, the brooms of a lantern plant or the stems of apple blossoms to create their work. The influence of nature can also be seen in a more abstract way in personal impressions or memories of unforgettable natural phenomena.