Drifting Textures - Constanza Camila Kramer Garfias
Images of the Exhibition
Description
In her most recent major series “Autobahn Generation Overload” (2022), artist Constanza Camila Kramer Garfias initiated an evolution of materials. Once dismissed as “women’s work” and categorized more as craft, weaving is one of humanity’s oldest technologies—dating back 27,000 years—but only gained recognition as a legitimate art form in the 20th century, thanks to pioneers such as Louise Bourgeois. Kramer Garfias powerfully demonstrates the strength and uniqueness of the textile medium as a vehicle for contemporary artistic expression.
Her new series “Drift” and “Dust” explore the captivating world of car culture—specifically the niche motorsport of drifting. In this sport, cars slide sideways through curves at high speed with a near-weightless grace. Known for her innovative approach to textile art, Kramer Garfias seamlessly weaves together themes of movement, speed, and the ethereal beauty of drifting. This act of controlled chaos becomes a metaphorical canvas through which she explores ideas of fluidity, spontaneity, and the harmony between human and machine. Through intricate textile compositions, she captures the essence of this adrenaline-charged sport and offers the viewer a glimpse into its dynamic, intoxicating world.
“I became fascinated by the world of drift cars because I had already started engaging with this subject through my Autobahn series,” the artist explains. “There’s a compelling tension when textiles—which are soft and flowing—are used to depict lacquer and metal surfaces. They’re so contrasting, yet they share certain affinities.”
Kramer Garfias uses yarns and threads like paint or sculptural material. In her “Drift” series, a flat-woven sculpture of an engine block appears to vibrate with force, even as it remains motionless within a stretcher frame. A textile landscape from the “Dust” series blazes past in neon brilliance—without ever moving. In one Jacquard-woven piece, spanning 4.2 meters, two drift cars perform a ballet, their motion so vividly captured that it captivates despite the textile’s stillness. These works vividly demonstrate the artist’s ability to challenge our senses—both visual and emotional.
One of the most striking aspects of Kramer Garfias’s work is her capacity to convey movement and energy through textiles. Employing a wide array of materials and techniques—from traditional weaving and embroidery to experimental fabric manipulation—she creates visually compelling works that evoke motion and vitality. Each piece is meticulously crafted, layered with texture and color that mimic the swirling trails of smoke and tire marks left by drifting cars.
For many years, Kramer Garfias has been researching and advancing the Jacquard weaving technique. With the help of emerging technologies—AI, laser cutters, computerized embroidery, industrial looms—and new materials, she continues to develop her practice. This results in a dialogue between ancient and modern technologies, between physicality and automation, sensuality and efficiency.
What fascinates her about her new motifs?
“The tension between automobiles and textiles. The textile medium is deeply associated with women’s culture and identity, while cars are, in mainstream perception, strongly coded as masculine.”
Born in Chile and raised between South America and Europe, Constanza Camila Kramer Garfias studied Conceptual Textile at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design in Halle. Her work consistently reflects on social realities and contradictions—crossing the boundaries of conventional artistic genres.
Text: Mon Muellerschoen
