Filum - Fiber Arts Podcast

In this episode, we move between a Baroque painting, modern space exploration, and the quiet structures of everyday life to explore how women’s contributions have often been seen – but not fully recognised. From Artemisia Gentileschi to Artemis program, we trace how visibility, authority, and expectation shape the way achievement is perceived. This is a reflection on power, perception, and the sys...

In this episode, we explore the art and philosophy of mending – not just of cloth, but of life itself. When you sit down with a needle and thread, it isn’t merely about repairing a shirt or a sock. It is about entering a conversation that has lasted for centuries, connecting with every hand that stitched before yours. Mending has never been merely practical; it carries care, resourcefulness, and t...

What happens when the festive noise fades, the year begins anew, and we find ourselves standing in the quiet, feeling flat, uncertain, or disconnected? This exploration invites you to linger in that space. From the emotional stillness of January, we move into the creative pauses of artists – Agnes Martin, Louise Bourgeois, Robert Ryman, Yoko Ono, and others – who show how patience, restraint, and...

The nature of the holiday season for creative minds is rich and multifaceted. For some, it brings joy, inspiration, and a burst of creativity, fueled by festive lights, cherished traditions, seasonal scents, and sensory experiences that awaken the imagination. For others, it can be a time of heightened stress, perfectionism, and burnout, as year-end pressures, social obligations, and personal expe...

What happens when the noise fades and the crisis has passed — when we are left standing in the quiet aftermath, unsure of what to do with the silence? This episode invites you to linger in that space. We follow Gustav Klimt as he steps away to the calm edges of Vienna, where movement, light, and the act of creation become tools of self-restoration. From Klimt’s world, we turn inward, to our own. Y...

In this episode you are invited to reflect on the delicate balance between fear and creativity in uncertain times and explore how stress, anxiety, and the constant anticipation of disaster can shape the way we live, think, and create—sometimes narrowing our focus, sometimes heightening the value of small, everyday moments. Through the stories of artists who continues to create vibrant works amid t...

In this episode, we explore the ethical and cultural challenges of living with artificial intelligence and large language models – tools that, much like the machines of the early 20th century, are reshaping how we think, work, and create. Drawing parallels to the industrial revolution, we revisit figures like William Morris, who resisted mass production in defense of craftsmanship, and Karl Marx,...

What if the image we’re shown is a story that never truly happened? What if everything we see online is just a curated illusion – a polished slice of reality that quietly breeds misunderstanding, frustration, and self-doubt? In this episode, we look beyond the shimmering feeds and picture-perfect posts to ask: how much of what we admire is even real? The lifestyles, travels, cultural outings, shop...

In this episode, we explore a rarely celebrated yet deeply human part of the creative journey: the pause that occurs in the lives of artists, writers, and thinkers who often face dormant periods in their practice, dealing with gaps in their CVs that are too often viewed as failures or weaknesses. But what if those silent spaces hold creative and emotional power? From the emotional unease of person...

What happens when gladiators leave the ring behind — not in defeat, but in search of something deeper? In this episode, we explore the radical career shifts of boxing legends who transformed their lives through creativity, craftsmanship, and inner reflection. We look into the powerful stories of Sammy Frager, the featherweight champion who turned to glove-making with monastic precision; Muhammad A...

In this emphatic episode, we confront the growing problem of youth militarisation in the 21st century – a global issue that continues to blur the line between childhood and war. From camouflage school uniforms to patriotic indoctrination and media glorifications of war, we explore how military culture quietly infiltrates young minds, shaping their identities before they fully form. There is some s...

Why do some people seem to shine early while others take decades to unfurl? In this reflective episode, we explore the psychological phenomenon of the “blooming season” — that deeply personal timing of self-realization and creative awakening. From early prodigies to those who rise later in life, this theme weaves together insights from psychological research on self-actualization, identity formati...

In this thought-provoking episode, we unravel the meaning behind Descartes’ enduring phrase: “Dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum” – “I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am.” From this foundational idea, we trace a philosophical journey through the minds of Gilles Deleuze, Franz Kafka, Jorge Méndez Blake, Doris Salcedo and Teresa Margolles, revealing how critical thought disrupts systems of silence...

As global anxiety rates continue to climb, scientific research points to a growing mental health crisis shaped by social, environmental, and personal pressures. In this episode, we observe the root causes behind this surge, from digital overwhelm to isolation and uncertainty. We also explore a gentle, restorative response: the healing potential of thread and fibre. The story features the inspiring...

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating interplay of the five human senses – sight, touch, smell, hearing, and even taste – through the lenses of physiology, psychology and fashion. While fashion is traditionally seen as a visually dominant field, we challenge that perception by exploring how all the senses contribute to the experience of clothing, identity, and emotional resonance. Our conv...

In this reflective episode, we delve into the emotional terrain of sentimental objects – books, photographs, textiles, and cherished fragments left behind by those we’ve loved. These items, both intimate and ordinary, become powerful vessels of memory and identity. But what happens when they begin to clutter our inner landscape? Through personal stories and cultural analysis, we explore the psycho...

In this episode, we explore the philosophical and psychological dimensions of space – not as empty distance, but as a field of experience. Through the quiet, contemplative work of art, we look at how paper, textile and thread can transform our perception of space into something internal, emotional, and deeply grounding. We imagine the art pieces of Agnes Martin – the subtle grids and soft palettes...

In this episode, we explore the deep emotional experience of losing a sense of belonging — especially for those who’ve lived under harsh or repressive regimes. When one’s homeland becomes a place of silence, fear, or disconnection, how do we begin to reclaim a sense of identity and home? We turn to fibre art as a healing language — a tactile, expressive practice that speaks across borders and brin...

In this reflective episode, we explore the powerful phenomenon of the inner voice — that ever-present dialogue shaping how artists see themselves, their work, and the world around them. We will observe how this internal monologue can fuel creativity and spiral into self-doubt and relentless criticism. We will discover the key ways to tame it, drawing on the emotional honesty of Louise Bourgeois, w...

In this episode, we journey into the dreams that begin in childhood — those vast, shining hopes of becoming an astronaut — and how they intertwine with the quiet, grounded rhythm of handcraft. What happens when these two worlds meet? We explore the inspiring story of those who carried their love for making into the cosmos, including astronaut Karen Nyberg, who stitched a starry quilt block aboard...

In this episode, we unravel the powerful connection between chaos and creativity, exploring how artistic expression often begins in the unknown. Through the lens of mixed media and textile art, we dive into the messy, intuitive, and deeply emotional process of making — where fibres found objects and personal histories converge. At the heart of our conversation is the extraordinary legacy of Judith...

In the episode, we delve into the fascinating interplay between the brain’s two hemispheres — where logic meets imagination. Join us as we explore how engaging analytical and creative processes through practices like embroidery, crafting, and design can foster mental balance and emotional well-being. From structured problem-solving in any crafting activity to the meditative flow of freeform artwor...

In this opening episode, we begin at the mythic heart of all textile creations, their philosophic nature and the thread itself. We unravel the story of Ariadne, the Cretan princess who offered a single thread to guide Theseus through the labyrinth — an ancient symbol of intuition, craft, individuation and survival. From this timeless myth, we follow the thread through history and into the present...