Nicole Kiersz

Weaver

©Louisa Boeszoermeny

©Vera Drebusch

©Erika Kiersz

©Vera Drebusch

Artistic research

Nicole experiments with translating the sky into fabric
Her work examines anthropological to botanical environments
She bought her first loom with prize money from a competition

Nicole Kiersz is a textile artist from Hamburg. Although she gained a master's degree in textile design, she decided not to work in the industry. Nicole describes her studies at the HAW as being craft-focused. There she became intrigued by the loom and she decided to learn more. The desire to produce her own fabrics forced Nicole to learn increasingly complex techniques so she could experiment with haptics and optics. Nicole's woven pieces are inviting to touch, not least because of the superior quality materials that she chooses. In her free work, she explores the facts and aspects of different environments in greater detail. Among other things, she studies the colours and shapes of places in nature to gain a new perspective on objects, which she then translates in her weaving.

Interview

©Vera Drebusch

©Erika Kiersz

How would you describe what you do?: I describe my work as artistic research. Environments relating to anthropology, ethnology, sociology, and botany interest me in particular. My work Tulipmania, for example, compares the woven DAX curve in March 2020 with the veins of tulips.
Do you master special techniques?: For some time now, I've been translating the sky into fabric. In addition to looking like the blue sky, the woven fabric should also change colour with exposure to UV light. I first warped my light blue wool yarn on a chain and bleached it. When dried in open air under UV light, the colours change again.
Why does underwear feature in your work?: In my childhood, instead of a grocery store, I ran a stall selling underwear. Growing up, I did research on the transformation of sheer tights into woven pieces. The tights were pre-consumer and post-consumer waste; once they are broken they are a serious problem for the environment.
What is an unforgettable experience in your career?: After my degree at the HAW in Hamburg, I was worried about not having my own loom. I had my eye on a loom that cost 7500 euros. In my final semester of my bachelor's degree, I was invited to the award ceremony for the Bavarian State Prize for young talents and won 7500 euros.

Nicole Kiersz is a master artisan: she began her career in 2014 and she started teaching in 2014