about
Bettina Matzkuhn explores themes of ecology, weather, and geography in her fibre work. Emphasizing hand embroidery, she values the versatile language of textiles. Matzkuhn holds a BFA and an MA from Simon Fraser University, and is the recipient of Canada Council and British Columbia Arts Council Grants. She has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions across Canada, as well as internationally. Her work is found in national public collections such as the Surrey Art Gallery, Cambridge Art Galleries and the Weldon Map Library at Western University. She lives and works in Vancouver, British Columbia.
artist statement
I grew up around sailboats on BC’s coast, and hike in many corners of Canada, hence a love of charts, maps, symbols and landscape. My interest in local ecologies represents an ongoing learning. I study landforms, vegetation and weather for their histories, portents and metaphoric potential. A sense of passage is important to me. I see embroidery as a miniature trail, a pathway explored by the fingers rather than the feet. My process includes research, photography, test samples and drawings I make before beginning and during the making itself. I experiment with a range of fibre materials and synthesize these towards work that is aesthetic, ambiguous, and open to discussion.
