More fiber art today, but this time it’s not knitting coming off the wall – it’s three dimensional images created with pins and thread.
Debbie Smyth is a young artist from Ireland whose work is buzzing all around the Internet. Smyth photographs and sketches her subjects, plots and hammers pins on the wall, then wraps threads around the pins to ‘develop’ the image. Her work literally “lifts the drawn line off the page.”
“On first glance, it can look like a mass of threads but as you get closer sharp lines come into focus, creating a spectacular image. The images are first plotted out before being filled out with the thread, the sharp angles contrasting with the floating ends of the thread. And despite the complexity of the lengthy process I try to capture a great feeling of energy and spontaneity, and, in some cases, humor.” Debbie Smyth
Watch Smyth in this video as she creates one of her large-scale installations. Want more? Here’s a video interview with the artist.
Debbie Smyth’s website. She’s on Pinterest too. How appropriate!
There’s alot of “gee whiz” “Art” being made these days. By that I mean
the work being made is not admirable for what it says about life, existence, or anything, for that matter, but is rather dubiously regarded as worthy because of how it was made. “It’s made out of thumbtacks? Gee whiz! It’s made out of plastic bags? Gee whiz!” Most of this art or craft may be made out of unusual or unconventional materials, but one thing it is not made out of is a great idea.
I wonder if any of the above compositions were done in pencil, graphite, or paint, would they be
attracting so much attention? I doubt it.
Clever? Yes. Unconventional? well, almost, but most “art” of this kind ranks just slightly above the recreations of the Eiffel Tower, steamboats, or bridges done in toothpicks, or matchsticks, by prisoners who had little else to do.
Just because it’s buzzing around the Internet does not make it full of profound thought, sophisticaiton, style. In fact, the buzzing makes it even less likely.
For once, you have managed to “un” impress me, which is unusual for your fine site.
Hi Al – Thank you for your comment. Obviously I disagree with you regarding Smyth’s work! I think she takes drawing to another level and she does it quite well. Moving 2D work into the 3D realm, when done well, adds to the conversation – it doesn’t take away from it.
I’m thrilled that this young artist has attracted so much attention on the Internet – in her case I believe it is well deserved and I look forward to watching her work evolve.
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