In Thoughts, Together: research (2022)
Funded by The National Swedish Handicraft Council
In the initial stages of my Hedared basket-related research, I had immersed myself in various historical sources to understand the Hedared basket fully: poring over books, publications, historical records, and visiting archives and even recreations of historical housing. Each encounter with historical data was enriched by personal anecdotes from family members, providing nuanced insights into both the Hedared basket’s factual history and the culture, the social conditions, that had birthed it.
I had encountered the broader historical narrative of the village and its region, yet, if I had learnt anything during this process of understanding: it is that there’s a depth to knowing that transcends mere facts — it is the heartfelt that brings nuance to things, and simply extends beyond the factual. In my strive for comprehending the complexities of my subject, my exploration needed to extend beyond my immediate family connections to encompass the broader Hedared community and their histories. I needed to listen to voices that were yet unfamiliar, take in the heritage and lived experiences from those who expressed themselves as invested in the basket as myself. To lead a continued exploration with the heartfelt.
Enter the second phase of the research: In Thoughts, Together.
It was through a series of conversations with members of the Hedared Village Association, that we together unveiled past roots, present-day realities, and future legacies of the village: explored craftsmanship, social progression, and personal destinies – all interconnected via the Hedared basket. The aim was to allow each interaction to steer the course of the research, starting with a common set of questions for each participant, then letting the conversation evolve organically, enabling participants to share what they deemed relevant. This approach introduced new insights, locales, and historical individuals connected to the village, but also allowed recurring themes, stemming from the conversations, to naturally appear.
What does the collective memory of a local craft heritage look like? Do memories differ from family to family? Person to person? How does such a heritage inform the current self-image of a rural area? How do you document and keep such a memory alive beyond the feeling of nostalgia?
The texts, documents, photographs, and transcripts gathered during the course of this specific research comprise a simple collection of stories. The synthesised conversations, interactions and observations will be presented as part of the upcoming publication:
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The research serves as a series of testaments, relating to the larger theme of this upcoming book. Beyond the upcoming publication, this body of research would serve as the subject for my woven work – initially presented in the exhibition In Thoughts, Together – hosted by the Craft Association of Southern Sweden (2023).
The woven outcomes has since been shown at the Textile Museum of Sweden and MalmöVÄV