Tapestry as a matter of thought
- Scheila approaches tapestry through weaving, needlepoint and tufting
- She works with cardboard looms and discarded yarns to spark creativity in her pupils
- The longest tapestry she has made took a month to produce
When Scheila Eggert first encountered tapestry during her studies in 2019, it proved to be far more than a craft to her. “Tapestry became a gesture of comfort in my daily life. It is a language through which I could transform what I feel and observe into art that can be touched, felt and contemplated,” she says. Scheila’s process begins with sketching on paper or digitally, inspired by photographs, artists she admires and the rolling landscape around her studio in Joinville in southern Brazil. From there, her woven pieces come together through three distinct techniques – manual weaving on a compact rigid-heddle loom, exacting needlepoint, and tufting, in which yarn is pushed through fabric to form sculptural reliefs. “Tapestry brings together research, technique, concept and original creation. It is a practice that is both intellectual and material, and that balance gives it its strength as contemporary art,” Scheila explains.
Interview
- Which artists most inspire your work?
- Gunta Stölzl, Sheila Hicks and Norberto Nicola each influence me differently. I learned constructive research and the dialogue between art and design from Gunta Stölzl, the freedom to experiment with textures and colours from Sheila Hicks. From Norberto Nicola, I take the poetic quality he brings to textile work in Brazil.
- Which aspects of tapestry are unseen?
- The pace of tapestry making, of each knot and each interlaced thread is an essential part of the work. It is in this slow rhythm that I find meaning and build pieces that hold layers of endurance and presence.
- Do you pass on weaving skills to others?
- I teach art in public schools and always bring in textile techniques, especially weaving. We work with simple tools, such as cardboard looms and leftover yarns from my studio. Pupils enjoy the process, as it builds patience and sparks discussion about craft and contemporary art. I am now planning workshops in my studio, as I believe sharing knowledge is vital to understanding craft, time and process.
- What do you want people to experience through your work?
- I intend to convey tactile and visual sensations. My aim is for each piece to invite the viewer to explore colour, form and depth, awakening both emotion and curiosity.
Scheila Eggert is a rising star: she began her career in 2019 and she started teaching in 2024
Where
Scheila Eggert
