Residency of Nikolina Krstičević, hosted by CONTEXTILE – Bienal de Arte Têxtil Contemporânea in partnership with BIEN – Biennial of Textile Art
Nikolina Krstičević is a Croatian artist and graduate in Textile Design from the Faculty of Textile Technology in Zagreb. Her work has been showcased in various group exhibitions and held three solo shows. Her exhibitions include the XIV Triennial of Croatian Sculpture and the Biennial of Textile Arts Bien in Kranj. She participated in the 'Briefing on Soft Arts' programme at the Centre for Fashion and Clothing Research in Zagreb (CIMO) and is a member of ULUPUH, the Croatian Association of Artists of Applied Arts.
Krstičević's work is somewhat (self-)therapeutic or at least cathartic. In the project 'Delicate Work', the Croatian artist investigates how textiles can be a medium for processing emotional memories stored within the body. As part of the EFFEA Residency at CONTEXTILE – Bienal de Arte Têxtil Contemporânea, she is particularly interested in the concept of touch, the theme of the 2024 edition of the Biennale. How are emotions felt in the body? If these emotions had a physical form, how would they move, look or feel to the touch?
To explore these questions and to get closer to herself, Krstičević creates textile forms that personify her emotions. Early childhood photographs are used as the stimuli to access emotions she no longer feels but that remain in her body. With the slow, mindful techniques of needle and thread and the expressive moments of needle felting, she opens a door to release trapped emotions. Her work thus becomes an interface, delicately connecting her inner fragility with visitors' touch.
In partnership with BIEN – Biennial of Textile Art (Slovenia), the leading festival CONTEXTILE will provide the conditions for the artist to engage with the territory and all its key players, be they artists, artisans, mediators, curators, industry members, and the community. The residency aims to connect the region of Guimarães with contemporary artistic creation in textiles, fostering a relationship between the emerging artist and the unique textile culture of Portugal and Europe. It will offer access to local textile industries which combine historical heritage with modern innovation and are moving towards sustainable practices. The project encourages artistic experimentation with new materials and techniques, contributing to a dynamic collaboration that merges economic activity in textiles with creative endeavours.
Nikolina Krstičević will be in residence at the Convento de Santo António dos Capuchos, as part of CONTEXTILE, from 8 September to 12 October. The exhibition will take place between 12 October and 15 December.