Cities in Lines

Invisible Dimensions

Thread Drawings of Urban Landscapes

In 2009 and 2010, Kalle Lampela created a series of drawings using a needle and thread. The drawings are based on his walks and observations in different cities, mainly Osaka, Berlin, and Rovaniemi. During these walks, he took photos of shopping malls, dilapidated buildings, and demolition sites. In the working process, he transformed the photos into lines, which he then recreated with thread.

These drawings showcase his fascination with the sharpness of the thread and the nearly invisible three-dimensionality that he can achieve with this method on paper.

– Kalle is an artist whose style keeps evolving, and this artwork using needles and thread is particularly fascinating as it employs “sewing tools,” which are not commonly used in visual art expressions. Was there any specific reason or inspiration that led you to try this technique?

“I saw small works of cityscapes sewn with a sewing machine in a gallery in Berlin. I was inspired by them, but I wanted to create images by hand that featured something interesting or critical.”

“I was interested in slowing down the drawing process at that time, and I was intrigued by the sharp, yet three-dimensional lines that could be created with thin threads.”

– Regarding the theme of this drawing, what was the reason for choosing cityscapes?

“Actually, I was interested in demolition sites in the city centers. Along the way, I observed other urban spaces as well.”

Process of Tracing Cities – Needle and Thread Impressions

Overlay a transparent sheet on a photo
and trace the outline with a pen

Project those lines onto a paper attached to a wall
using an overhead projector

Following the projected lines,
create holes in the paper using a needle

Draw lines by threading a needle through those holes

– The process for these artworks is entirely analog and resembles traditional crafts, involving a time-consuming effort. By using various tools and taking the time to create these pieces by hand, do you find yourself reflecting on thoughts during the process, and does it lead you to gain insights on a cognitive level? Or is it more of an immersive experience where you don’t think about anything else while working?

“Creating these works was like great therapy and highly addictive. It was difficult to leave the work unfinished, similar to a coloring book from childhood.

I don’t remember if I was thinking about anything specific. Thoughts probably came and went.”

– Since these artworks are meticulously planned and executed, there seems to be little room for chance or accidents. Were there any unexpected effects or discoveries during the production of these pieces?

“I tried to blur self-expression and anything distinctive. If the holes were too close to each other, the paper could break, resulting in some small surprises. Another surprise was when I no longer knew which point would come next.”

– From a distance, these artworks appear to be delicately drawn with fine pens, but upon closer inspection, it becomes evident that they are actually crafted using threads, like embroidery. The paper is filled with numerous holes where the thread passes through, and the shadows of the threads create intricate details in the artwork.

This gap between initial impressions provides a sense of surprise for the viewer. Furthermore, understanding the technical difficulty and time required for “sewing on paper” makes one admire the artist’s patience, while also revealing the artist’s human qualities, creating a sense of playfulness.

Unlike craftworks and handcrafts where the meticulous work is directly represented in the artwork, Kalle’s expression in this artwork incorporates certain tricks or devices. Was this intentional? Do you find any meaning in doing so?

 “I was fascinated by the fact that from a distance, the work looks like it has been drawn with a felt-tip pen, but up close, you notice that it’s made with thread. Many viewers at exhibitions thought the works were drawn and didn’t even notice up close that it was thread. I wanted to offer the viewer a sense of surprise, but it didn’t always succeed.”