Diana van der Harst

born 1976, The Netherlands

My work comes from a fascination for organic transformations and nomadic confrontations.          It is the physical, sensory, tactile experience through the skin, that is my main vehicle and textiles worn on and around the body are my main medium.

With organic transformations I am pointing to the changing shapes, in the natural environment. Like a mouldy orange or coral growing. Nomadic confrontations arise where self and familiar is left behind and room for new impulses, new interpretations are being created.

The mediums I use are the textiles that I develop. This textiles set tone for the creation of the final work, which sometimes is limited to the fabric itself, but mostly consists of textile products, especially fashion & interior accessories, sold and made as one-offs or in limited editions.

I see fashion & interior as a way to create an overall experience and the human body and his environment as the bearer of my ideas. My role is that of an autonomous, free designer, offering and evoking this experience through visualizing my stories, making them literally tangible.

The other - my audience - is to share this experience by wearing the results of my work.           That sensory re-experience by the carrier, finally finishes my work.

This tactile experience is essential: this is not just for wearing, but also to the construction of my work. In the creation of my work I mainly use traditional handicraft techniques: felting, weaving, knitting, crochet, rope making, hairpin lace, basketry, embroidery, etc.                        The physical experience of crafting, its basic and “unpretentious” character as well as the cross cultural and ancient use, for me play a very important role.

The silence which traditional craft techniques entail is important to me as well: it is not only a very welcome experience in this often-hectic society, but also makes room for reflection and again to new creation.

All in all, the silence against the chaos, the nomadic confrontations, the immersion of myself in a world of chaos, in a bombardement of impulses when foreign cultures and natures meet -    that is where my work originates.