Hungarian artist Eszter Bornemisza, combines paper and fabric and focuses around ideas that reflect relations to urban life. “With the multi-layered surfaces of real and imaginary maps I’m striving to grasp moments of finding our place both physically and mentally.”

You’ve had an interesting journey to become a textile artist.

I was born in Debrecen, and now I live in Budapest, Hungary. I studied mathematics and became a researcher on the field of sociology and later I achieved a PhD in mathematical statistics. But all the time sewing had been one of my favourite free time activities. I used a sewing machine in my early teen ages in a self taught way through altering my grandmother’s old clothes to fit me. Later I sewed almost everything from leather shoes to overcoats and even suits for my family and wove jackets. As I had many small over left fabrics, I stitched them together and someone said they looked like quilts.

You worked as a researcher for almost 20 years you turned to textiles. What prompted this change?

In 1996 I had the chance to visit a Quilt Expo in Lyon, France. I saw art quilts for the first time and thought they were like modern paintings made in the medium of textiles. I had always been keen on contemporary art, but never thought of trying to paint myself. Here my two independent interests suddenly joined up together: textiles and modern art. It became clear to me in a flash, that this is what I have to do! I was bold enough to decide that in the next Expo a piece of mine would hang on the wall. And so I did it. But before that in 1997 I entered a piece for the First European Quilt Championships in the Netherlands, and won best of show award. That gave me a real kick off. I also had very strong support from my family, especially my husband so after a few years of hesitation I dropped maths and became to a full time studio maker.

What is it about textiles that appeals to you and what technique do you use?

The softness, pliancy and the different textures they have. I use mainly machine stitching (not embroidery) and paper casting on 3D objects.

How do you describe your work?

Fiber art, or mixed media fiber art – as I use paper and textiles together.

How do you work?

I just make small sketches to feel proportions of the composition. Also when I experiment with new materials and techniques I make lot of samples. As an urban citizen the theme of my work is revolving around ideas that reflect our relations to urban life. With the multi-layered surfaces of real and imaginary maps I’m striving to grasp moments of finding our place both physically and mentally.  As experimentation and research has been primary tools for developing ideas, labyrinth like maps with many dead-end streets has been a visual metaphor of my journey to find my own identity.

Do you have any advice for aspiring textile artists?

Make and experiment all the time – even without a certain goal. Ideas sometimes develop through the making.

What is your career highlight to date?

I cannot name any special one, the procedure of making, or when a finished work appears are all highlights.

Do you have any exhibitions coming up?

In these difficult times when many physical exhibitions had to be postponed, mine were too. Hopefully my paper installation project in the XIII. century church of  Alspach, France will come true in 2022, and my big solo show at the Visions Art Museum in San Diego, USA has been rescheduled for 2023.

www.bornemisza.com

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