Lokal: What are some of the things that inspire your creative process?

Sini Villi: “For me, the best source of inspiration is peace. It gives the ideas buried in my subconscious the space to pop up to the surface. I often admire different textures and shades both in nature and in materials. Uneven, hand-woven and hand-dyed fabric is always an interesting starting point for a new piece. Also, for example, the systematic sowing furrow of a far-off field landscape, the worn paint surface of an old building or the spiral shell of a fossil ammonite equally inspire the creative process.”

L: What are some important principles in your work and your approach to your practice?

S.V.: “It is important for me that through my work I can just stop in front of the material, in complete serenity. I can explore its features and appreciate its existence. Even though cutting a beautiful fabric into strips sometimes seems absurd, I think it’s interesting to give it a new shape and even mislead the viewer a little. I never actually sketch, but I see the shapes and shades of the works as clear visions in my thoughts. When I start working on a piece, it often ultimately becomes completely different. The most important thing then is to trust the process and one’s intuition.”

L: What made you want to work with silk? How much does the material determine your design process?

S.V.: “I have worked with clothes for years and silk has remained in my use through that. When I was still testing the first pieces, I found a wonderful hand-woven wild silk from a craftsman I knew, and fell in love with its properties. The matte, glassy sheen of the silk emphasises the three-dimensionality of the piece in an interesting way and it reproduces even the delicate tones beautifully. I like to support artisans in purchasing materials, but for ecological reasons I have also started making works from other natural materials, such as linen and hemp. They give the works an earthy atmosphere.

The choice of material has a surprising effect on the design language of the work. I often use smooth-surfaced, lightly shimmering fabric in works with delicate and soft shapes. The rustic, hand-dyed fabric also works well for larger works, because the uneven surface and tone give the works a nuance in itself.”

Shop: Sini Villi’s Works

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