1981 Fabric Collage by Nulle Øigaard

Nulle Øigaard (b. 1937) is a Copenhagen-born artist known for her work in fabrics and textiles. She studied under the guidance of painter Axel Klingspor and continued her studies at The Art Academy’s Painting School, with further education at Academie Julian in Paris. She has exhibited widely throughout Denmark and the rest of the world.

In this fabric piece, we are immediately captivated by the tactile appeal of the entire surface. When we look in more detail, we notice how the artist has carefully stitched fabric and added areas of colour in layers, which add depth and intrigue to this tranquil landscape scene.Contrasting textures are used to convey the qualities of the natural elements represented, with delicate, transparent layers that evoke the fluidity water, and more heavily textured fabrics reminding us of rugged terrain.

Of her work, Nulle Øigaard has said, ‘It is motifs from the coasts and landscapes of the Mediterranean that have been my great source of inspiration all my life. The tapestries should be seen as paintings, where the shape of the fabric pieces and the expression of the colors determine, even if the parts come from textiles instead of (paint) tubes.’