Eidfjord, Norway 2008

In March and April 2008, 2009 and now in April 2011, Eidfjord residents of all ages have knitted using leftover yarn and their own imagination to create knitted patterns. I assembled the materials together with the participants on selected trees in public spaces in Eidfjord in 2008 and 2009, and the knitwork was on display in all four seasons. The colourful social sculpture decorated Eidfjord and attracted the attention of locals and visitors throughout the year. Graknitti has given Eidfjord a lot of attention, and the project now lives on by popular demand.

Inger Lena Gaasemyr started this project in Chicago, where the goal was to integrate people across social boundaries. She named the concept GRAKNITTI, a play on words with many connotations ranging from graffiti and street art to traditional crafts and old grannies. GRAKNITTI focuses on how local residents can express themselves and make use of public spaces, as a counterweight to relentless commercialisation.

The knitting concept has a broad symbolic meaning. Knitting and knitted fabrics give associations to comfort, caring and social networks. Our relationship with nature is highlighted through the choice of urban trees as objects. Most importantly, this conceptual artwork has involved local residents, and is entirely non-profit. 

Inger Lena Gaasemyr ©2011