The Wilcom Associate Award for Digital Embroidery - Textile Art Category

Kristina’s project is inspired by Juhannus (Finnish Midsummer), a day when the veil is thinnest, suffused with potent magic. It is a day of
festivities, a day of sun-worship, of reverence in nature, of costume – a day that celebrates the coming together of people to
worship endless light in order to brace themselves against the returning dark. Weaving crowns from flowers and placing them on
each other’s heads invites the power of nature to grant strength to the wearer and steel themselves for the dark winter, each flower
carrying its own power and meaning.

The performance draws from these rituals and traditions, showing flower crowns as ritualistic uniform, sacramental wear. The piece
consists of an embroidery triptych displaying a Juhannus celebrant and an accompanying animation depicting its creation through a
ritualist dressing performance. The process of adorning one-self in the garb of ritual, as well as the meticulous, intricate creation of
the costume is ritualistic and meditative in and of itself. The neon represents the sun on this special night, a never ending glow and
vividness, and the repetition of the dance between light and dark is reflected in the endless cycle of animation.