Linda Lasson

Can you tell us about your artistic journey? How did you start working with embroidery?

Years ago I worked with textile print, but I thought I didnt envolved so I started to experiment by embroidering on some of them. 2011 I had my first exhibition with handembroidery at Härnösand Arthal and that is all I have been working with since then.

What drew you to use materials like tarp and lining paper in your textile work?

My early work was on fabric but using that you have to use a embroidery hoop. Using that makes your stiches limited, I think, beacause I want to make as large stiches as I like, so I started to look for other materals. First I started with geotextile and then by chanse I found lining paper. I like to go to hardware shops and see what you can use. Some years ago I saw that a Swedish company had started to sell white tarp and I emediatly bought several of them in different sizes. I always wanted to try tarp but they were often dark green and not so tight woven. There was no difficulties handembroidery on tarp and its always great making large artworks!

How does living in the north of Sweden influence your themes and imagery?

Since I like walking in nature with my dogs thats where I get my largest inspiration from. So almost everyone of my artworks usually depict a tree.

Many of your pieces depict reindeer, people, and forests. What stories or messages do you aim to convey through these subjects?

My embroideries have always been political wether it been about how we treat our nature or how we treat indigenous people. I want to show that embroideries can be political.

Your work blends traditional embroidery with contemporary visual storytelling. How do you see your practice fitting into today’s art scene?

In Sweden embroidery have been conservative, there has been a no no for trying new materials. They should be neat, cute and small. I want with my artworks to break that notion.

How do you plan and develop a new piece? Do you sketch or improvise directly on the fabric?

I like to think how I will start a new embroidery, the coloring and shapes. If its a larger embroidery for example on tarp then I usually make a schetch, but otherwise I paint them up in my head as I proceed making them. Sometimes making altercations while I work.

Are there specific artists or traditions that inspire you?

At the moment I find my inspiration from two Swedish artists Karin mamma Andersson och Andreas Eriksson.