Keywords: bobbin lace, chicago, helium balloons, illinois, olivia valentine, textile, usa, cotton, mylar

Punto in Aria (Powerhouse Window Construction)

Olivia Valentine

Dimensions

7600 x 2100 mm

Materials

Textile: torchon bobbin lace made with cotton weaving yarn suspended by 72 mylar foil helium balloons

Artist statement

‘My recent work has evolved around the historical development of lace constructions; revealing a process of threads woven together, knotted, stitched and cut away in order to be built back up again. I have come to understand these processes as complementary ones of destruction and construction. I am interested in finding their counterparts in the built world, aligning the distinct histories of lace-making and architecture and bringing a new perspective to these disparate modes of making.

The window creates a relationship between the interior of the building and the exterior world. The main facade of the Powerhouse Museum has a window from the original power plant as its dominant motif, which is repeated elsewhere in the building. By bringing this external motif into the museum, this piece challenges ideas of interior and exterior space, aligns textile construction to architectural construction and highlights the building’s layered history of use.’

Behind the scenes

Installation of Punto in Aria (Powerhouse construction)

Love Lace: Work in progress