Kirsi Eskelinen is a Finnish textile artist whose works visualize people's experiences and stories of places. Her pieces function like maps, bringing to the surface the moments and emotions people have experienced in specific locations. Each work is a personal narrative that reveals the depth and significance of places and experiences.
Eskelinen works by interviewing people whose narratives she transforms into her artworks. This interaction and collection of stories gives the pieces depth and meaning, resonating with the viewer's own experiences of places. Her technique is tufting, and she primarily uses wool yarns in her works. Additionally, she employs plant- and mushroom-dyeing techniques, as well as indigo-dyeing, which give the pieces natural hues and depth.
In her works, Eskelinen particularly explores the significance of nature and environment in shaping human experiences from a topographical perspective. Her pieces invite the viewer to reflect on the role that nature and the environment play in the formation of stories and memories. The works create connections between people and the surrounding world, prompting thought on how nature and the environment influence experiences, identity, and community.
