While studying Buddhist philosophy in Asia, Cárdenas started creating lengthy handwritten calligraphy scrolls as part of her meditative practice. She soon started transforming objects and making installations with the scrolls. It was the morning ritual after long walks in the forest in Busan and the repetitive process involving writing, sewing and assemblage – similar to saying a mantra or a prayer – that gave birth to this series: “The Quiet Thread”.
“The Quiet Thread” was curated by Sabine Casparie and it consists of scrolls, artists’ books, sculptures and installations exploring the role that art can play in bringing to light the power of “mindfulness”. Cárdenas uses Nepalese paper, Japanese ink, thread and Swedish antique sewing and weaving tools that she collected in her trips between 2014 and 2018.
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MINDFUL ACTIVISM I, Installation consisting of handmade dress and ink calligraphy scroll on Nepalese paper mounted on cotton by hand-stitching, 40 x 40 x 163 cm/15.7 x 15.7 x 64 in. ((w x d x h), 2018
UNTITLED, Installation consisting of baby dress, handmade ink calligraphy scrolls on Nepalese paper mounted on cotton by hand-stitching and “The Swedish Abortion Law in 18 languages”, 40 x 40 x 163 cm/15.7 x 15.7 x 64 in. ((w x d x h), 2018
UNTITLED, Installation consisting of bridal corset and 4 ink calligraphy scroll on Nepalese paper mounted on cotton by hand-stitching, 30 x 20 x 120 cm/11.81 x 7.87 x 47 in. (w x d x l), 2018
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- MIGRANT BOOKS
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- Installation consisting of 2 Swedish bibles from 1890’s highlighting Deuteronomy ch.15, vs. 7-11 together with 2 scrolls of ink calligraphy on Nepalese paper, 12 x 12 x 48 in./30.5 x 30.5 x 122 cm (w x d x h), 2018
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- HOMAGE TO MOTHER’S HANDS
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- Three handmade ink calligraphy scrolls on Nepalese paper mounted on antique Swedish wood sewing spools, 2.3 x 4.3 x 168 in./5.8 x 10.9 x 426 cm (w x h x l), 2018
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- MIGRANT VESSELS
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- Handmade ink calligraphy scrolls on Nepalese paper, hand-stitched on cotton background and mounted on antique wood boat style weaving loom shuttles of Swedish origin, 13.3 x 1.9 x 15.7 in./33.7 x 4.8 x 40 cm ea. (w x d x h), 2018
HOMAGE TO WOMEN’S HANDS Installation consisting of Swedish antique (1800’s) wooden spool linen thread holder and 2 handmade ink calligraphy meditation scrolls on Nepalese paper hand-stitched onto cotton, 11.8 x 13 x 18 in./29 x 33 x 46 cm (w x d x h) plus 2 scrolls 60 in. long each (if open), 2018
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- PRESCRIPTIONS
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- Series of 15 Artist’s Books, handmade ink calligraphy on Nepalese paper mounted on anti-depressant strips, wood drawer, 2016-2018
