barbara jansen - BADA

ate complex patterns, compositions evolving over time. The experiments are
driven by the need to understand how to build rhythmic structures in order to
be able to fully explore the aesthetic potential of time-based patterns.
In the following descriptions of the experiments the metaphor of instrument
and composition will be used. Each braided structure is understood as
an instrument on which diverse compositions, light sequences, can be played.
A composition can consist of one or several voices, i.e. one or several strings
activated independently in the braided structure. Thus, each voice can play
its own melody or in unison with its other voices.
Why a change to a braiding technique? There are four reasons why I decided
to work with braiding: it is a traditional technique, the way light is emitted
and spread inside the structure, complex light patterns, and independency in
the manufacturing process.
First: Research Diary Note: In the south of Spain I found Esparteria, an
old traditional braiding handicraft in which braiding is done with Esparto
grass. Over several trips to Andalusia I fell in love with the beautiful surfaces
covering and protecting the windows of the old wine cellars from the heat of
the sun. Still allowing the smell of wine to evaporate the façades and linger
in the narrow streets of EL Puerto de Santa Maria. They made me curious to
find out more. They made me curious to find out more about this technique.
I discovered that Esparto is used to create a wide range of textile products,
ranging from curtains and carpets to baskets and wine bottle holders and that
this single technique enables the creation of two-dimensional surfaces in several
shapes (rectangular, round, oval), as well as various three-dimensional
shapes. The tradition has nearly died out as it is passed on from hand to hand
strictly inside families, why there is hardly any form of documentation to be
found on the subject. I was fortunate enough to get hold of three pieces that
were considered rubbish. These pieces triggered me to try out the technique
- I so wanted to know how to crack the code. It took two weeks of intensive
work to do it. Well, I did not learn the traditional way of braiding these structures
with Esparto grass, but instead I was able to braid it with strings of other
materials or optical fibres. See photos in Appendix 1: .
Second: using this technique, the textile structure is created by implementing
the fibres from one direction. Weaving requires interlacing fibres
from two directions, weft and warp. Braiding in this way, you start at the top
and work your way down the whole length. Thus, the length and width of the
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