From Spikeworld. | Spikeworld - The blog of textile artist Spike Dennis
Retro Computer Game Needlecraft
Per Fahger’s choice of retro computer games as inspiration for his needlecraft is a perfect match. The pixelated imagery of these long fogotten computer games of the 80s and 90s maps easily onto the grip based systems that are used to create needlecraft patterns.
Per´s choice of material, technique and color gives us a perfect example of how traditional crafts can receive a new expression and context in the modern world.
The use of these age old methods of making to replicate these previously digitally rendered images is interesting. It draws our attention to the fact that despite our technologies having advanced, the imagery we produce is still very much of the same ilk. It’s only the methods of production that have changed significantly.
Maps pictured in the recreation of old Super Mario Brothers games resemble medieval documents rather than the ordnance survey maps we’re familiar with today. Meanwhile the colours of works such as Kirby’s Adventure remind me somewhat of paintings by the pre-Raphaelites and Seiken Densetsu III looks like it could be the work of a Romanticist.
Whilst the Romantic artists of the eighteenth century looked back to medieval times for inspiration Per Fahger is looking back to the eighties and ninties with a nostalgic eye.
For today’s 30- and 40-somethings, digital environments are as meaningful as concrete ones. Perhaps more. Thus, the urgency of preserving them, as textile artifacts, becomes perfectly comprehensible. – Matteo Bittanti
You can view more of Per’s work on the Stene Projects website.
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