Invisible labour
Why would there be a need to ever pick up a needle? In this day and age of automation and convenience - anything beyond fixing a button or a small hole is considered as too much effort. We are no longer capable of recognizing the skill and effort of artisans, forgetting the value of experience and patience. We no longer see the craft and the industry as part of one whole. We no longer think of the hands making it, far removed from the means of production. Just in the last 100 years the textile industry that had always had roots in culture and expression had dwindled and cut the art of making. Opting for imitation of the skill that has been passed down for centuries, leaving history and people behind the “innovation”.
Dina's art is not a collection of doilies and granny squares, it is a homage to the artisans and the invisible labour. Sourcing examples of dying crafts from the late 1800s when they were widely in use and fashion. With reverse engineering and research Dina showcases the hours and movements of craft through installation like framing. Taking inspiration from natural history museum-like displays.
