Kirsten Baade. Juried Artist
Superordinary
Superordinary
Artist Statement
I was commissioned to make this artwork for Curiocity Brisbane in 2022. My intention was to merge the traditional art of hand embroidery with modern fiber optic technology, reimagining the familiar into a large-scale display that marries artistry with technology. I aimed to reshape our perception of craft and the medium of light through the intersection of old and new.
Luminous Threads intertwines my nostalgia about embroidery—conjuring memories of the wall hangings at my grandmother’s house—with a futuristic twist, using illuminated fiber optic cable as my thread of choice. The art of hand embroidery is thousands of years old and is practiced worldwide. For me, it reminds me of school holidays spent making cross-stitch panels to gift family members. In this artwork, I have taken the traditional embroidery of my youth and intersected it with the electronic skills I learned through university. I hope the artwork speaks to the enduring nature of artistic practices and the possibilities of innovation.
As embroidery motifs, I depicted iconic Australian flowers. The embroidery of my youth typically depicted European-style floral designs but I departed from the familiar, choosing to depict Australian native flowers: banksia, gum blossom, bottlebrush, and wattle. The large-scale public artwork is a celebration of place, inviting viewers to experience the interconnectedness of culture and nature.
In essence, Luminous Threads fuses past and present, nostalgia and futurism, craft and technology. It invites audiences to reimagine the essence of embroidery and embraces the illuminating potential of innovation through the depiction of local flora.
About the artists
Kirsten Baade is a highly skilled and passionate creator based in Meanjin/Brisbane. Her work extends across a diverse range of mediums, including large-scale sculptures, electronic art, light art, murals, and illustrations.
Kirsten’s artistic vision is characterised by the creation of beautiful and quirky objects and environments, bursting with vivid and colourful expressions. A particular fascination with lighting technology drives her to explore its creative potential fully. When conceptualising her projects, Kirsten places significant empha-sis on the physical and material properties of the technology she employs.
With a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronics) from the University of Queensland, Kirsten’s educational background provided her with problem-solving skills and the ability to translate her artistic visions into tangible realities. Over time, she has gained extensive experience in creating large-scale public art projects, often integrating electronics and lighting to enhance her artistic endeavours. Notably, Kirsten has a strong background in working on site-responsive projects. She is currently pursuing a Research Master’s degree at Queensland University of Technology, focusing on kinetic light art and interaction design.
Kirsten’s passion for creating vibrant and imaginative art is evident in her high-quality public works pro-duced for renowned organizations such as Vivid Sydney, Curiocity Brisbane, Queensland Children’s Hospital, World Science Festival Brisbane, BIGSOUND Festival, Brisbane Outdoor Gallery, QUT Sus-tainability Week, SWELL Sculpture Festival, Brisbane City Council, Gold Coast City Council, Cur-rumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Brisbane Canvas, Taco Bell, and more.
Credits: Kirsten Baade