The subtle spatial installation Ripening serves as a reminder that flax cannot grow without solar energy, and without the sun, there would be no textiles and consequently no clothing made from natural materials. In the past, these materials were crucial for the survival and development of humanity, and it seems that it would be wise to learn from our ancestors even in modern times. At the same time, the fragile installation serves as a reminder of the ephemeral and unpredictable nature of our lives. The floor section consists of wooden “stakes'' that have been exposed to weather conditions for many years. From floor to ceiling, hand-spun flax threads, arranged in a circular shape (circle representing the sun, vertical threads representing rays), depict sunbeams extending towards “infinity”. The flax stems at the base of the installation grow towards the sun. The flax plants used were manually plucked by more than 80 volunteers who joined forces to preserve and respect the ethnographic and cultural heritage of Bela krajina and to establish a connection with nature. The project of traditional domestic flax fabric production is led by Vita Ivičič with the support of the Razstresen farm from Rim village and the Kolpa Landscape Park.
Photo: Maša Pirc / BIEN
Vita Ivičič is a textile designer who completed her studies at the Chelsea College of Art & Design in London. In 2017, she received the award for the most experimental and innovative collection at the Mittelmoda competition in Milan. She creates clothing using vintage materials and those she finds in nature.
Mateja Kavčič is a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana and the recipient of the Ivana Kobilca Award 2021 for ongoing production. She works as a visual artist in the fields of painting, drawing, printmaking, spatial installations, and land art.
