distance, verb

(c) Malashree Suvedi
distance, verb, 2022
Textile installation (Wool, yarn, thread, fabric)

Dispersed yet close to each other, my textile installation, wall text, and picture book exist in correlation to one another. Through these pieces, I attempt to expose my contorted selves. I feel distance like it’s a doing word, I feel distance within myself- between my past and my future and my present, most noticeably I feel distant from other people and other bodies. My work doesn’t focus on the loneliness of living as a singular human being but rather the juxtaposition that existence grants: we are all bound to each other (to human and non-human beings alike). Akin to the great networks of ocean that my works thematically play with, we are dissipated yet conjoined. We need each other, in a world threatened by climatic crises- we are still fallaciously and dangerously maintaining the illusion of complete, selfish individuality.

But then if we are incomprehensibly bound, why do I feel so lonely?

I am a 28 year old poet from Kathmandu, Nepal. I am far away from home. I grew up in and out of Nepal, the concept of home is far away from me. I make art, although historically and presently women doing art has always been deemed as less than, the word craft is used often. This is especially true if women use traditionally feminine mediums such as fabric and textile in their practice. My material of choice, textile, was no accident. I also like whimsy and play, perhaps this further betrays hyper-machismo notions of gravitas and pretence in art. The demarcation between art and craft hangs on misogyny, classism, racism, and imperialism. I, however, sometimes find myself alienated by the term artist but It is true: I am crafty. Hence I have been attempting to reclaim the term craft, trying to bridge the distance between the status quo and my actual work, my craft.

Textile installation: Measuring 153 cm in height and width, the work also dangles 153 cm above ground. This is this craftsperson’s height (and also the artist’s). Feel free to lay down and observe it, to find your sense of space slightly reconstructed. I use 153 cm as an analogical measurement of my perception of the world, how I experience distance. Experience a different type of distance: use the binoculars to look deeper if you want. What do oceans tell us about the emergent properties of space and time and networks and distances?

Wall text: A short abstract to slightly counterbalance my emotive, chaotic craftwork on distance. This text is also a play on academic cultures that hyperfixate on formalities rather than a dissipation of knowledge. I do not think of this as a satirical piece, but rather a piece that questions the validity of such linear models of learning.

Picture Book: This is a book is comprised of a poetic meditation on climate change and distance, it is aimed for the best amongst us (young children)- but you as adults are welcome to enjoy it. The aquamarine images that go along with the text in this book correlate to the textile installation as the fish and ocean life in the book are pictures from the installation. This is a dream ocean, and the images are of abstract textile.

malashreesuvedi.com; instagram: @malashreesuvedi

Fact Box

distance, verb