Our universe … it’s origin … it’s boundaries… Since my early childhood these topics interest me. So my eyes lit up when I discovered this catalogue with embroidered “spacy art” of artist Alexandra Knie. Fascinating. Having read the catalogue it felt like having seen her exposition in real time. That’s quite an achievement, isn’t it?
Let’s enjoy the contemporary
The catalogue has a modern, creative, young look & feel. So different from brave, safe museum editions. Really refreshing, I ‘m so glad with that. We need more publications like this. Thanks Alexandra!
The catalogue consists of two booklets, stored in a nice looking folder. One booklet is about art-works relating to the micro world around us. Alexandra creates her own micro world, by designing fictional viruses.
The other booklet is about art-works relating to the macro world around us, f.e. planets and meteorites. For the last years Alexandra has been investigating the relation between these (micro) viruses and (macro) meteorites & asteroids. More about that later.
Let ‘s start small
Via a friend who had to “design” a virus at the university, Alexandra got interested in the micro world around us, consisting of viruses and gems. She realized the adverse characteristics of viruses are also present in our society, e.g. in computer viruses. Her interest was aroused and she started making art in the field between science and fiction. Here below you see some photo’s of fictional viruses she designed.
Let’s think big
And then of course there’s also a macro world around us. In booklet two we get to know this world a bit better, at least in a fictional way.
Alexandra sheds light on the mysteries that surround us. By making art about objects of unknown origin, from beyond the Kuiper belt. Here below you see some photo’s of these works, imagening micro meteorites.
In her earlier day’s, Alexandra mostly worked with paint, she was specialized in it. Later she stepped over to embroidering, it felt to her as a kind of “painting with thread”. Nowadays she combines paint and embroidery in her work, for example in this work here below.
Often Alexandra embroiders by machine. Which gives a nice and fast result. Now and then she embroiders by hand, less fast and also nice to look at. I think the difference between the two approaches is clearly visible, however both methods led to a great result.
Alexandra tries to create a kind of new macro space world. The work space geography seems to be a kind of “map” of it. At least, that’s how I see it. But I’m a cartography-fan, so it might be wishful thinking :-).
The next work surprised and touched me. It pays attention to our dysfunctional behavior in outer space. Like leaving all kind of men-made trash behind us, being busy with our space programs activities. That’s my interpretation anyway. Or would it be about something else, about unidentified space objects for example?
The next work intrigued me. Because of it’s attempt to connect the macro- and micro worlds. It definitely caused some thinking. Why, what and how…? I’m still philosophizing about it.
Let’ s enjoy the candy world
When you buy the catalogue you also get a gold printed image on transparent paper (see below). It´s print of an imagined macro world. It challenges you to play with this world. Besides that you get a sample of infected matter. With these two little gifts I felt a bit like a child in a candy store… yummy!
Alexandra’s cosmos
Alexandra is born in Germany and lives and works there ánd in Valencia, Spain. She has taken part in group expositions and gained some prices and fellowships. She has a educational background in Fine Arts and has also worked as a teacher in this field.
Let’s find more information
If you’re interested to see more of Alexandra’s embroidered art … this catalogue can be ordered by sending Alexandra a message on Instagram, #alexandra_knie.
Or you can take a look at her website, www.alexandraknie.de. Or follow her on Instagram, she ‘s quite active there.
Let’s look at her expositions
From March 6th till June 7th 2020, Alexandra participates in “Mit Stitch und Faden” at the Museum August Macke Haus, Bonn https://www.august-macke-haus.de/ausstellung/vorschau/.
Wanna see more arty embroideries?
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For now enjoy creativity!