Ditte Sørensen: Threads, the Elusive & Feminine

Known as Madstitch, her solo debut unveils the intricate world of fabric as the canvas itself, offering a profound exploration of both the tactile and intangible aspects of various mediums serving as a basis for her work. Celebrated for her unique fusion of traditional textile techniques with a bold contemporary vision, Sørensen creates narratives that resonate deeply on personal and universal levels. Her work, characterized by an expressive, unpolished sensuality, serves as an invitation to explore the layers of human experience through the lens of fabric and collage art.

Sørensen intricately balances and weaves raw narratives, touching upon the delicate intersections of identity, memory, and the essence of femininity. The exhibition showcases an array of Sørensen’s creations, including original fabric artworks, original mixed media pieces and prints. Each piece is a testament to her journey as an artist and a pioneer in the Danish art scene. Her distinctive use of freehand embroidery transforms ordinary elements into storied tapestries that speak to the viewer on multiple levels, sometimes incorporating auditory elements to deepen the sensory experience and immersion. (Follow the hidden QR codes).

At the core of Sørensen’s work is an adventurous spirit, captured through her experimental approach to textiles, paper, and water-soluble fabrics on an old sewing machine. Her art is a nuanced exploration that pays acute attention to materials and detail, capturing the essence of the elusive and feminine with a subtlety that is both captivating and tactile. Her work evolved from utilizing predominantly textiles in the past to nowadays mostly paper-based techniques, which can include books, magazines, and chocolate wrappers. Sørensen does not limit herself and explores literally any material from plastic bags, dried leaves, and old pillows as basis for her distinct collages.

An exclusive highlight of the show is the unveiling of “Bird Woman,” a mixed media original crafted specifically for the Austin audience. This piece embodies Sørensen’s innovative approach to art, merging diverse materials and techniques to tell a story of freedom, transformation, and the feminine mystique. Behind every stitch and thread lies a story of chaos, deliberately turned into beauty and dialogue, a hallmark of Sørensen’s work.