Colin Chudyk

Grotesque Gardens

Artist and architect Colin Chudyk worked with ‘Grotesque Gardens’ on an ongoing research project in which landform and lifeform converge. At the TextielLab he explored how knitted and felted wool moulds could be used for casting ceramics. These moulds carry textures that are based on landscapes of extraction, such as mining and industrial infrastructures. 

Chudyk produced the knitted pieces on a computer‑controlled flatbed knitting machine and then felted them through washing. This resulted in a robust, dense textile structure capable of supporting liquid clay without leaking. During the making process he determined the final dimensions and forms. 

The project built on Chudyk’s residency at the European Ceramic Work Centre, the international residency centre in Oisterwijk where artists work with ceramics. 

Photography by Patty van den Elshout commissioned by the TextielMuseum