Eva Hagström

Wood, textile, metal, religious textiles, public decoration.

Born in Malmberget, resident and active in Siknäs. Textile design/Master of Fine Arts, University College of Arts, Crafts and Design, 1984.

Winter. The blue sea and time of year provide inspiration. Maybe this is to do with the location of my studio - which sits like a small dot cast out into the vast, white beach of our most northern coastline, on the very, very blue sea - calm, tranquil, and timeless! The wonderful Norbotten countryside also inspires, just like the literature, music, and the native people's (Indians, Eskimos, Sami, among others) lives, crafts and handicrafts, and the effortless way they combine shape, colour, and natural materials with excellent function in their everyday objects.

I prefer to work with a free tapestry, weaved in an upright weaving frame - using linen warp with elements of wool and linen - creating narrative, detailed, pictures rich in colour; but also with geometrically rigid, strayed, ripped pictures woven using a loom; with thick, shiny linen warp and elements of thick, sisal rope, providing a rough, knotty, abrasive structure.

I also use cotton rags for my tapestries - with environmentally friendly recycling in mind - and enjoy combining wood and textiles.

I work mainly with public decoration, religious textiles, my own exhibitions, and design of artistic handicraft in wood and metal, as well as providing studio viewings.