Oiko-nomic Threads

Oiko-nomic Threads

Installation

Materials: knitting machine (Brother kh-950i), micro-controller, programming, hacking/tinkering, computer(s), 2 LCD screens, threads, open financial data, folk motifs
Dimensions: app. 7m x 3m x 2m

Produced in A. Psarra's studio, Athens, GR 2013
Commissioned by the Greek National Documentation Centre

Image: Oiko-nomic Threads @ the Greek National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens, GR 2013 (c) Marinos Koutsomichalis.

The installation Oiko-nomic Threads represents a system commenting on the notion of work through the production of a textile.

By means of rethinking, modifying and redefining the functionality of an obsolete knitting machine and using both financial data from the databases of National Manpower Employment Offices and selected patterns inspired by Greek folk art, a textile is generated algorithmically and in real-time. This way, the woven textile is to be understood as both a document of its own making as well as a dynamic base of archival resources which presents a computer-generated interpretation of the original financial data.

Oiko-nomic Threads is a collective project by Marinos Koutsomichalis, Maria Varela and Afroditi Psarra, realized with the support of the National Documentation Center (EKT) in the framework of ‘Creativity: Innovative Models of Production and Access’ (CIMPA) project.

Exhibitions

TETRAMATYKA Festival, National Academy of Fine Arts, Lviv, UA (2017); 19th Contemporary Art Festival Sesc_Videobrasil, São Paulo, BR (2015); 16th WRO Media Art Biennale, Wrocław, PL (2015); Microsoft Research Studio 99 [textiles only] Seattle, US-WA (2014); Ars Prix Electronica, Future Innovators Summit [textiles only] Linz, AT (2014);  Bozar Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels, BE (2014); Transmediale 14, future past–past future, Berlin, DE (2014); National Museum of Contemporary Art, Afresh, Athens, GR (2013).

Publications

Proceedings of International Symposium on Wearable Computers (Seattle, 2014), Subtle Technologies Festival [poster] (Toronto, 2014),  Creativity Conference: Open & Economically Sustainable Models of Creative Production, National Documentation Center [talk] (Athens, 2013).

Oiko-nomic Threads @ 19th Contemporary Art Festival Sesc_Videobrasil, São Paulo, BR 2015 (c) Marinos Koutsomichalis.

Oiko-nomic Threads @ 19th Contemporary Art Festival Sesc_Videobrasil, São Paulo, BR 2015 (c) Marinos Koutsomichalis.

Oiko-nomic threads @ Bozar Center for Fine Arts, Brussels 2014 (c) Marinos Koutsomichalis.

Oiko-nomic Threads @ Bozar Center for Fine Arts, Brussels, BE 2014 (c) Marinos Koutsomichalis.

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Oiko-nomic threads @ Greek National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens, GR 2013 (c) Grimius Inevitabilis.

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Oiko-nomic Threads @ Transmediale14, SUPERMARKT, Berlin, DE 2014 (c) Afroditi Psarra.

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Detail, Greek National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens, GR 2013 (c) Marinos Koutsomichalis.

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Oiko-nomic Threads @ Greek National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens, GR 2013 (c) Marinos Koutsomichalis.

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Detail, Greek National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens, GR 2013 (c) Aggeliki Hatzi.

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Detail, Greek National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens, GR 2013 (c) Aggeliki Hatzi.

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Detail, Greek National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens, GR 2013 (c) Aggeliki Hatzi.

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Detail, Greek National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens, GR 2013 (c) Aggeliki Hatzi.

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Oiko-nomic Threads @ Transmediale 14, SUPERMARKT, Berlin, DE 2014 (c) Afroditi Psarra.

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Making of.. Athens, GR 2013 (c) Afroditi Psarra.