We spoke to artist Malin Parkegren about her creative practice and the inspirations behind her work featured in our current exhibition Line/Loop/Line, showing at the Australian Tapestry Workshop until February 2024.

How did you get into making art?

I honestly don’t know. I’ve always been a person who likes to delve deep into certain topics and areas of interest. Then I guess I started calling it art not too long ago.

Who or what inspires you to create?

Problems! Or more like solving the practical challenges that come with creating something. I’m also a hardcore 'diy-er' (maybe known as a craftsman). If I think of something, I need to make it myself and experience the process.

What does your practice involve – what techniques do you use in your work?

Linen, kasuri and thin threads. There is a whole world in the meeting of these three, and I have much more to learn about it and experience its special conditions, so I think I’ll stick around here for quite some time. But I do enjoy some embroidery as well when the urge hits.

What does a day in the studio look like?

I work with the threads in whichever part of the process I’m at. I’m not a morning person so I tend to work late instead. I also drink a lot of tea. Right now I have a space at a large studio collective called wip:sthlm and it’s interesting to meet professionals from a variety of disciplines.

How does your work in this exhibition relate to your practice and where it is heading?

If I generalize, I believe there are two intentions when it comes to kasuri. One is geometry and symmetry, and the other is the creation of a more free image. These two call for very different approaches, ways of expression and possible technical exercises. I really enjoy both and hope to continue working with these aspects of kasuri. I’m also planning to incorporate more natural dyeing as well.

‘Line/Loop/Line’ is open to the public to view 1-5pm, Tuesday – Saturday until 2 Feb 2024.

View the ‘Line/Loop/Line’ exhibition page here.