The human weaving machine

Participative performance, rope, wood

2014

Visitors are invited to hold threads and become moving parts of a weaving machine. On a small monitor a simple animation shows the participants how to operate the human loom. I dyed the ropes in black and red so that the participants know which rope to lift. This setup reminds those involved of the foundations of manual labour, technology and how fabric is actually made. My early memories of the old loom in our attic and later the visits to the textile factory of my grandfather have been influential here.

animated instructions for performers: