Marie Vilay

To Read a Pattern 

Marie Vilay developed ‘To Read a Pattern’ as a textile installation to explore what happens when Laotian weaving is applied within Western production standards. In Laos, weaving is traditionally passed from mother to daughter, but in the West these crafts are rarely seen in an authentic or contemporary form. Vilay translated patterns from her field research into industrial production at the TextielLab, creating new patterns that continue the Laotian tradition in a different context. The work highlights how cultural interpretations and technical systems influence each other and encourages reflection on authenticity and continuity. 

One of the wall hangings from the installation was exhibited during ‘Intersect’ in Paris, as part of France Design Week, and the work was also shown at ‘Master Pieces’ from 29 November to 4 January 2026 at the TextielMuseum. 

Photography by Seungrok Nam