Code and Craft at Its Best

Anna Lucia is launching “Oefenstof” on the objkt.com platform this Wednesday, July 24.

Decorating, embellishing, making the ordinary extraordinary. Documenting and telling stories and history. Almost as old as the act of dressing, embroidery is one of the oldest artistic practices that humanity has preserved through the ages.

From garments adorned with bones, pearls, and stones dating back to 30,000 BCE to the intricate designs found in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs, the evolution of embroidery has deep historical roots. The contemporary embroidery that uses patterns as the foundation for designs created with thread also traces its origins to ancient practices.

As early as the 2nd century BCE, across various cultures, embroiderers and lacemakers used samplers as practical records of motifs and stitches — for creative expression and educational purposes. It is in this dialogue between art, technique, and technology, learning and experimentation, that Oefenstof is born — a new project by artist Anna Lucia, launching this Wednesday, July 24, on the objkt.com platform.

Dynamics

The project will feature 50 limited edition releases over approximately 4 months, with new pieces available every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Each NFT will include 15 editions and will consist of a high-resolution scan of the embroidery work and a digital component. Sales price will be ~15$ per edition, the Tezos price is updated every Monday when the value has fluctuated + or - 20%.

Anna Lucia retains full ownership of this series' physical works, including the right to sell them individually or incorporate them into new artworks. 

Learning and Experimentation

Oefenstof is a Dutch term that translates to "practice material" or "training material." Anna Lucia presents her embroidered fabric works as part of an ongoing process, based on an algorithm that will develop throughout the project. 

The artist will use an embroidery machine and custom code to build her own library of samples, reinterpreting traditional embroidery patterns and motifs with computer algorithms, thus complementing both automated and manual processes in the creation.

Oefenstof explores the relationship between automation and craft through code. The pieces are created through a process of learning and experimentation, incorporating both traditional and innovative elements in the field of embroidery.

About the Artist

Anna Lucia is a generative artist who often explores the intersection of code and craft. By integrating randomness, Anna Lucia establishes a mediumistic dialogue between the artist and the computer; and accelerates the exploration of her self-designed systems. Her body of work includes generative systems on the block-chain, browser-based animations, machine-assisted textile works, and tattoos, each medium revealing its inherent aesthetics.

In an interview with artist Marcelo Soria-Rodrigues in 2022, Anna shared that she had always been interested in art and artistic creation but took some time to find her medium. “After leaving art school, I often had doubts whether I had made the right decision in doing so. There was always this feeling, nagging in the back somewhere. (…) In 2019, I stumbled upon Processing, and it immediately clicked for me. Here it was, a medium that created a synergy between the two sides of my brain that had previously only worked in isolation.”

The artist created an Instagram account in 2020 and, the following year, discovered the online community of generative artists participating in the “Genuary” challenge. “Meeting like-minded people put more fuel on the fire, and whenever I could find the time, I would make generative works. Since October 2021, making art has been my main activity,” she says.

OEFENSTOF - By Anna Lucia

From 24 July, on objkt.com platform

Mints every monday, wednesday and fridays

Follow the artist: @analuciacodes