Fröbel

Fröbel is an art project that came to life amidst the global upheaval of the COVID-19 crisis. With the world's population forced into isolation, millions found themselves confined to their homes. This led to a resurgence of crafting, referred to as 'fröbelen' in Dutch, a hobby that was once viewed as nostalgic or outdated, but rapidly gained immense popularity. Puzzles, a symbol of this crafting boom, flew off the shelves until they were completely sold out, causing craft companies to experience unexpected surges in revenue.
Simultaneously, another cultural phenomenon was taking place. The adult content website, Pornhub, in an attempt to offer solace during these trying times, began offering free access to its premium content. This decision resulted in a drastic increase in site traffic. Visitor numbers during quarantine skyrocketed, with an increase from about 5% to an astounding 50%. The most popular search term on the platform during this time was "covid", and I have taken the imagery related to this as the starting point of the Fröbel series.
Fröbel project unites these two developments. It weaves together these two popular pastimes that defined life during quarantine - the innocent world of crafting and the less innocent world of adult content. This fusion results in a commentary on the ways people adapted to, and sought comfort during, an unprecedented global event. It encapsulates the dichotomies that marked this period of enforced isolation, blurring the boundaries of public and private.

diamond painting
handtufted rug 160x160cm
puzzle
Thanks to Kendra Sunderland and Emma Lovett for allowing me to work with their images