Lisa Urban

My work is an exploration of time and memory, represented through the creation of surrealistic environments. As a child, I found myself constantly interested in the imaginary worlds of books and animation, using them to transport myself out of the pains of real life.  As I grew up I found this same feeling when I began to learn to knit. Magically creating something from yarn and needles gave me a feeling that I hadn’t felt since my childhood: freedom.​

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Today I am recreating these childhood worlds through my paintings and installations of knitted forms placed within an imaginary environment.  What once began as a direct nod to the scenes from animated movies has since evolved into a deeper, bolder statement about memory, with the knitted balls acting as a visual representation.  By setting up a still life in my studio of knitted forms, fabrics, plastic wrap and colored light, I can use my imagination to create the watery landscape you see on the canvas. These landscapes create a discussion with the viewer about how new memories and experiences fall into our existence, some becoming important, while others start to lose significance until finally they just float away.

 

Furthermore, my installations and three-dimensional pieces are also created as a reference to time and memory.  The stitch patterns that I use are representative of the feelings from the moments I am recalling and the use of light adds to the idea of importance. By using knitting as a way to document, I am bringing about a discussion on how we create and acknowledge our memories.  My hope is that viewers will explore my memories and use them as a starting point to recall their own.