For the second half of my FFT fellowship I'm studying at KOBAKANT, an art collective in Berlin, Germany, that explores the use of textile crafts and electronics as a medium for commenting on technological aspects of today’s “high-tech” society.
"KOBAKANT believes that technology exists to be hacked, handmade and modified by everyone to better fit our personal needs and desires."
My weeklong workshop is called KOBA School of Wicked Fabrics: Foundation Course. My classmates are college professors, professional artists, and graduate students from France, Ireland, Canada, the Netherlands, and Germany. I'm the only American, but luckily (even though I am trying my hand at German), this week will be held in English. It's a treasure to be in a learning environment that brings together a group of diverse experiences, knowledge, and perspectives.
Today began building our foundational knowledge starting with the difference between e-textiles (integrating electronics and circuitry with fabrics), smart fabrics (fabric that reacts to sensors), and wearable technology (does not have to be fabric, but is worn like a FitBit). We were introduced to a variety of materials, traditionally used in aviation or the military, that are available for purchase by sites like LessEMF and Statex. Many of these materials are surprisingly accessible and affordable, so I am confident I can purchase these materials for my students.
This wide variety of materials was inspirational, and the possibilities started pouring in as my instructor spoke. I'm looking forward to getting some of these ideas down in my sketchbook for potential future projects with students.