Weaving-Unweaving the Observer

At its core, my work explores how a slow, embodied handcraft practice, specifically backstrap weaving, can function as a method for observing conditioned modes of attention shaped by productivity, performance, and systematic expectations. Rather than producing a finished object, the practice becomes a way of noticing how we relate to time, material, and our environment.

This project is situated within a broader inquiry into how contemporary systems shape perception, behaviour, and value. In a society driven by productivity, practices that are slow and process-based are often overlooked or misunderstood.

Drawing from textile traditions, particularly backstrap weaving, this work engages with forms of knowledge that are transmitted through gesture, rhythm, and embodied experience rather than written theory.

At the same time, the project is informed by questions of lineage, memory, and positionality. As someone navigating both connection and distance to their cultural heritage, the work reflects on how making can become a way of relating to material, to history, and to systems that shape how we think and act.

The project therefore sits between craft, contemplation, and critical reflection.

Activities am TFT

Visitors are invited to engage with a backstrap weaving loom in a self-guided format. A video tutorial provides simple instructions, allowing those curious to explore the practice at their own pace. The focus is not on producing a finished result, but on experiencing the rhythm, tension, and attention required in weaving.

The loom is set up for individual use. Visitors can sit down by the loom and try weaving themselves, guided by a video tutorial. No prior experience is required. Though the participants are kindly asked to approach the practice with care and attention, both toward the materials and toward their own pace of engagement.

Access Note

• There is capacity for one person at a time to work on the loom. Others are welcome to observe quietly or wait for their turn.Instructions provided via video (audio in English)
• Materials provided: backstrap loom, yarn, cushions, blankets, laptop, headphones, tea
• No fixed duration. Participants can engage at their own pace
• Low sensory environment (quiet, no strong visual or auditory stimuli)
• Physical requirements: basic hand mobility and eyesight

Content Note

The work invites participants into a slow, repetitive, and introspective activity. For some, this may bring up restlessness, impatience, or heightened awareness of internal pressure. The practice is intentionally non-productive and may feel unfamiliar at first.