A spark of life-SAAR SNOEK
workshop November, 5-6-7, 2021 Atelier Fiberfusing
Life forms in sculptural felt
Who is Saar Snoek?
Saar; "For me, felting is a way to explore the wonders of the natural world. Why is it so beautiful? I see the same patterns appearing in all life forms and natural phenomena. I make small studies of the real things - simulacra - in felt, and in that process I have to think about ways to turn the wool into an illusion of the object. You can never translate it directly because wool is wool and not the object. If you want to convert wool into something else, you need to look very precisely at the object you want to create. What are the characteristic patterns, colours, shapes and characteristics? In 2017 I made a coral reef and while making that piece (that was a collage of individual samples), I noticed that for me there are some basic principles that are essential to bring life to my pieces. Nature is "a bit dirty"; when I started with the reef my colours were too bright and it looked like a Disney movie or a toy, and when I applied some "dirt" in some parts, it came to life. I need the right balance between order and chaos. It must be complex but familiar. It should be organic - which is quite easy with felt - and it should grow slowly. Finally, but very importantly, it must be sensual and seductive in a certain way because nature is about reproduction. Based on these rules, I am currently working on more abstract pieces about natural life, perhaps because we are currently in the sixth wave of extinction, which is a terrifying fact. I try to pay tribute to all life, including the life we have never known and the life that will be after us. It's a humble attempt to continue evolution in my little studio! In the process I use the above mentioned rules, but in the felt process I try to think freely. Of course, there is technology involved in making felt that meets me, but techniques are only a means to achieve a goal I am more or less self-taught, except for my education at the Royal Academy in The Hague and of attending a few workshops. I paint all my own materials, which are usually super fine merino and silk. Being a sloppy dyer, I always have a lot of interesting gradients in my wool and silk. With felting I always work with cool water, because I find my felt process slow. From very thin prefelts, I build shapes that I begin to form early in the entire process. I designed my own rubbing tools that are softer and do not damage the wool. Because the felt shrinks greatly, there are many times when I can choose to change direction and as I gained more experience, I allow myself more technical freedom. I cut pieces and sew them together when they're almost completely.
While I once believed in 'right' technology where things are connected, I don't care anymore . I'm giving myself more technical freedom. My approach is now much more pragmatic".
Saar has studied painting at the Royal Academy The Hague and works as a painter and sculptor, designs her own felting tools and considers herself as a "felting-nerd".
Saar believes that there is not one way to make sculptural felt but believes that there are many ways to approch an idea. Of course techniques are important but they can be in the way of creativity. Techniques can Always be tweaked and perfectioned in a later stage.
Note
The workshop is being taught in Dutch or/and in English. Included is the every day lunch: we will serve fresh coffee, tea, drinks and homemade fresh lunches with farmers bread and several Dutch cheeses.