Thread dancing on the screen, scenic installations that provoke all the senses, interwoven photographs, but also tapestries evoking paintings. In this, the seventh year of the international exhibition entitled Textile Art of Today, which has been bringing together artists from different corners of the world for almost 20 years, the Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum will be transformed into a place full of colors, ideas, and stories woven from threads. As festival director Andrej Augustín says, “similar to previous years, this time it is not just about the beauty of fabrics and craftsmanship. Today, artistic textiles raise topics that affect us all - identity, memory, the environment, but also social justice.” Thanks to modern technologies such as digital embroidery, optical fibers, and interactive surfaces, the works are transformed into “living” objects that react to light and the movement of the viewer. Textile art can now be found in the world’s most prestigious galleries, from MoMA in New York to the Tate Modern in London to LACMA in Los Angeles. Once seen as marginal, it now stands in the spotlight as an equal partner to painting and sculpture.
The central motto “Art That Unites” expresses the idea of connecting cultures, generations, and values. The exhibition presents 50 authors from 16 EU countries whose work reflects the principles of dignity, freedom, equality, and human rights. The show, which had its successful premiere at Hlohovec Castle, strives to shift the perception of classical textile art to reflect the modern era, full of modern technology and reactions to global and local problems of today’s world perceived by artists.
Awards at the 7th edition of Textile Art of Today
The GRAND PRIX of Božena Augustínová – The top prize at the 7th edition of Textile Art of Today
WŁODZIMIERZ CYGAN (Poland) for his artwork entitled Vírusy, 3 elementy (Viruses, 3 Elements) and Pocta Antonimu Starczewskému (Homage to Antoni Starczewski)
Excellence Award - for outstanding artistic achievement in the artist’s social engagement in raising pressing issues of the present day
RADOSLAVA HRABOVSKÁ (SR) for her work entitled Vrstevnice strachu (Contours of Fear)
Excellence Award - for the aesthetically appealing and creatively inventive rendition of a work of art
MIROSLAV BROOŠ (SR) for his work entitled Darovanie... zeme XV (Gift … of Earth XV) from his Prenášanie zeme (Carrying the Earth) cycle
Excellence Award – for outstanding craftsmanship in the field of textile art
ANNIE VERHOEVEN (Netherlands) for her works entitled Diptych Gold I and II
