Magda Sayeg: How yarn bombing grew into a worldwide movement
Magda Sayeg: Kiel trikotgrafitio iĝis tutmonda movado
Magda Sayeg uses handmade, eye-catching yarn bombs to shake up the way we see the world and make us notice things we hadn't seen before. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
the yarn bombing movement.
knitted or crocheted material
graffiti-style --
ambitious notions about it,
warm and fuzzy and human-like
vilan kaj homan
that I looked at everyday.
de mia ĉiutaga ĉirkaŭaĵo.
would change the course of my life.
estis ŝanĝonta mian tutan vivon.
"What else could I do?"
that would get the same reaction?
la saman atentnivelon?
pole near my house.
proksime al mia domo.
and take pictures next to it,
Tio instigis min
in the neighborhood.
fostojn en la kvartalo.
the stronger the reaction.
des pli forta la reago.
was my playground.
of enhancing the ordinary,
or its functionality
suit out of knitting.
to take inanimate objects
I wanted to take it seriously.
ke oni vidu tion serioze.
this take over my life,
reacting so strongly to it.
fast-paced, digital world,
something that's relatable.
kun kio eblas rilatiĝi.
cities that we live in,
about that stuff anymore.
pri ĉio tio ĉi.
that's wrapped in knitting
I love to share with others.
and the stop sign poles
and large-scale and insurmountable?
eĉ nesupereblan?
in my heart for this one.
were recognizing my work
that was large-scale,
city bus to be wrapped in knitting.
aŭtobuso tiel vestita.
but I certainly don't own it anymore.
sed ĝi ne plu estas mia.
were doing this.
to certain parts of the world
and I knew I didn't wrap it.
kiujn mi neniam vidis antaŭe.
my own goals with my art --
miajn proprajn celojn per arto
the hidden power of this craft
la kaŝitan povon de tiu artmetio.
I had with the rest of the world.
I'd have a connection with.
in the most unassuming places,
en la plej modestaj ejoj,
that are just waiting to be discovered.
these tools that are connected to us,
we hold a controller or a cell phone.
regilon aŭ poŝtelefonon.
tion mi devas konfesi.
if you put those things down?
se vi forlasus la poŝtelefonon?
What would you create with your own hands?
Kion vi kreus propramane?
that I am a master knitter
a sweater to save my life.
interesting with knitting
formally trained to do this --
this was in the cards for me,
stumble upon this.
preterrenkontis arton hazarde
I held on tight,
mi ne forĵetis ĝin
that I am a working artist today.
esti artistino hodiaŭ.
might not be so seamless.
be as bored as I was
to change your world forever.
kaj ŝanĝos vian vivon por ĉiam.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Magda Sayeg - Textile artistMagda Sayeg uses handmade, eye-catching yarn bombs to shake up the way we see the world and make us notice things we hadn't seen before.
Why you should listen
Considered to be the mother of yarn bombing, Magda Sayeg’s 10-year body of work includes the widely recognized knitted/crocheted covered bus in Mexico City as well as her first solo exhibit in Rome at La Museo des Esposizione. Her work has evolved to include large scale installations around the world including commissions and collaborations with companies such as Commes Des Garçons, CR Fashionbook, Absolut Vodka, Insight 51, Mini Cooper, Gap, Smart Car. She continues to participate in shows such as Milan's Triennale Design Museum, Le M.U.R. in Paris and the National Gallery of Australia, among others. Her installations have also been featured prominently at American monuments to contemporary culture, such as The Standard Hotel, South By Southwest and the Austin City Limits Festival.
Magda has most recently expanded her artwork to encompass new mediums and techniques as with her solo show in Rome, which explored the usage of lighting with knitted material. She continues to expand her boundaries by joining integrated media company 1stAveMachine as one of their directors which will serve as a platform for new types of experimentation and collaboration.
Recent projects include an installation for Dover Street Market in NYC covering a column spanning 6 floors and a knitted/crocheted Route Master Double Decker bus in London.
Magda Sayeg | Speaker | TED.com