“Knitted Experiments / Experimenting while Knitting” is a mini-retrospective solo show that resumes the artists’ work that is connected with the knitted medium. Between 2012 and 2014 Varvara & Mar have produced a number of art pieces that talk about and through knitting: SPAMpoetry, Connected, Knitic, Kombi, NeuroKnitting, and Circular Knitic. The artists have started with learning knitting as a production technique and proceeded with using this medium as craftivism and even developing their own open source knitting tools. Hence, the exhibition underlines the learning process of the artists: from on hand, starting from the simple shapes and gradually moving to the volumetric forms, and from another, hacking an existing obsolete knitting machine from the 1970s to developing their own knitting machine.
Varvara & Mar is an artist duo formed by Varvara Guljajeva and Mar Canet in 2009. Often duo’s work is inspired by the digital age. In their practice they confront social changes and impact of technological era. In addition to that, Varvara & Mar are fascinated by kinetics and participation, which are integral parts of their work. Artist duo has exhibited their art pieces in a number of international shows and festivals. In 2014 duo has been commission by Google and Barbican for creating a new art piece for Digital Revolution exhibition. In 2015 their public art proposal for Green Square Library and Plaza in Sydney was nominated for the final stage. This year they have completed public art commission in Tallinn and have won 2nd and 3rd prizes for public art in Estonia. Varvara & Mar has exhibited at MAD in New York, FACT in Liverpool, Santa Monica in Barcelona, Barbican in London, Onassis Cultural Centre in Athens, Ars Electronica museum in Linz, Maribor City Gallery in Slovenia, etc.
Varvara & Mar
‘Knitted Experiments / Experimenting while Knitting’
10th – 28th October 2017
Draakoni Gallery
Tallinn, Estonia
Photography: Mar Canet