Scrap Poems



In winter trodden days, light appears first in the cracks of pavement. Golden sunshine, lion's tooth, the little dandelions introduce their presence as the first signs of spring. Some see their arrival as a relief, another winter passed, long warm days ahead. Others see them still as what should be removed, weeded. The sight of such a spoil on a perfect lawn, ruining the domestic landscape, the orderly lawn, is a signifier that a space is wild and impure. For those that do not see them as a nuisance, for those who perhaps see the treasure of their unruliness and resilience, another story can be told of their arrival. One that offers seeds to disperse further.


Dispersed further, two friends come together in a northern land, picking up scraps along the way of all the voices, disobedient weeds, collective memories, and discarded remnants encountered on their paths traced. Together, they’ve been picking up these unruly seeds, weaving them all to share them here today.


Miriam Del Seppia and Helle Lindskog’s weavings during residence have been informed and shaped through the influence of the many (human and non-human) voices met along this journey. Spanning times and localities, their influences have not been limited to local knitters, dandelions, Frida Hansen, hung laundry arrangements and even a flying palm tree. Through all of these meetings, stories have been shared and brought back into the studio, weaving together the worlds of all their KIN. 


Using scraps as inspiration, the language of their research has been consistently inspired by the tactile and the sharing of craft. Gathering found material throughout their days, they return to weave together objects and material of locality. The knowledge of making exchanges from hand to hand, following along through the visual and the tactile. Yet, we still ponder on how to share stories without a common thread? 


Can we weave all the scraps together to share the stories of many? 


Perhaps the dandelion can be a symbol for the potential of the story, able to emerge again after its attempted erasure. Allowing the overlooked and uncontrollable weed, arising from the cold winter months, to bring light back into the world. 





Marika Vandekraats (she/her, CA) is an artist and organizer based in Rotterdam, NL, focused on the human entanglements between nature and capital. Her work takes shape through video, sculpture, text, and performance that utilizes archival research to challenge its context.