Portfolio
Janine Strasser
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Artist Statement I’m fascinated by structures, surfaces and materiality. I’m always in search of interesting textures and forms and try to approach them in my works. My method of working is repetitive. I like to acquire traditional craft techniques and try to go beyond imitating them by altering the materials or the technique. This procedure originates from my interest in history and culture. My openness and eagerness to experiment encourages me to leave room and time for my projects. I take decisions in my projects after a long research and trial phase. I collect my observations and experiences in my sketchbook and reflect them. Discussing with other students and teachers is also essential because I appreciate to hear the outer-perception of my projects. After reflecting I choose the appropriate material and technique. At the moment I’m engaged in the self- and the external perception of the human body. I’m interested in how these perceptions alter when certain circumstances change. Especially the surface of the skin fascinates me, because there you can feel differences. From the outside the difference is not visible and sometimes concealed with clothes. In this project I combine my interest for textures, fashion and many years of experience with body therapy.
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Contents Smocking 4 Galvanising 10 A Souvenir for Bern Drawing structures
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Pattern experiments
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Yarns 30
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Smocking
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The aim of this project was to go beyond imitating traditional crafts and to create new things. Through exaggeration of dimension, material and technique I developed new surface structures. Experimenting was a key aspect in this work. In addition I have a continuing interest in the question of borders between surface and object and the possible movability of this border.
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I‘ve experimented with materials like neoprene, cotton, linen and silk, tarpaulin, packaging material and various types of felt. The technique I applied is called Smocking and was used in England and Hungary for uniforms and working clothes, which are made of cotton. Additional to the traditional patterns I developed new ones.
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Impressions of the sketchbook. Complete and digitalised version is visible on: issuu.com/janine90/docs/sketchbook
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Galvanising
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Conserving ephemeral objects. Structure and form of the chinese lantern fascinates me. In different ways I tried to approach this object.
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untreated
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clay figure
in plaster
copper-coated I
silver-coated
copper-coated II
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A Souvenir for Bern
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Developing a souvenir for Bern was the task of this project. The gadget should be preferably innovative and original, in addition it should be sustainable an low-priced.
I decided to choose a traditional swiss craftsmanship: silhouette. In the beginning I left open which material I want to use.
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The souvenir consists of six beermats, which you can combine to a city map of Bern. They can be sold as set or distributed separate in restaurants and bars. In the future there‘ll be red dots marking sights on the front side with explanations on the back side.
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In a second edition my concept will be realised for the anniversary of the Bern University of the Arts 2013.
three-coloured silkscreen on cardboard
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Parallel I developed a prototype for a felt-version, which I could produce with a water jet cutting machine.
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Drawing structures
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I‘m interested in structures and surfaces of fruits and vegetables. In this work I focused on two objects.
ink on paper
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Pattern experiments
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The difference between groups of people and individuals is the topic I‘m engaged with in this ongoing exercise.
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Yarns
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This project is a reaction of an existing artwork of a swiss artist. I was interested in the geometric forms, the distances between the metall rods and the colour fields.
Beat Zoderer
By creating compositions and researching I came up with the idea to build spatial geometrical fields. I chose cotton yarns because I wanted it to appear lightly.
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33 differently colored yarns, needles, wood laths
The issue of creating geometric fields with yarns still fascinates me. In this experiment I focused on creating a garment with single threads. I made a grid with pins, where I could tighten the threads.
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Thank you for your attention.
Janine Strasser Vorzielstrasse 15c 5015 Erlinsbach SO Switzerland 0041 76 498 45 27 janine.strasser@gmx.ch
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