irene posch + ebru kurbak build programmable computer using golden thread embroidery

irene posch and ebru kurbak have used historic gold embroidery materials and knowledge to craft a programmable 8 bit computer. in questioning the current digital and electronic technologies surrounding us the two artists have built the embroidered computer using solely a variety of metal threads, magnetic, glass and metal beads, and traditional crafting routines and patterns.

all images courtesy of irene posch and ebru kurbak

irene posch and ebru kurbak have composed the piece using (textile) relays, similar to those used in early computers before the invention of semiconductors. though traditionally purely decorative, here, the gold materials and their pattern are equally practical, as they are used for their conductive properties and specific arrangements that fulfill electronic functions and lay bare core digital routines usually hidden in black boxes. the embroidered computer invites users to interact with it in programming the textile to compute for them.

project info:

artist: irene posch, ebru kurbak

computer circuit design and simulation software: matthias mold

generative routing: raimund krennmüller

embroidery consultant: susanne frantal

metal thread consultant: sophie fürnkranz

crafting assistants: pascale ballieul, abdulrahman ghibeh, ramona hirt, ngo thi dao nha, katta spiel, isabella wöber, with special thanks to eva ganglbauer, anna masoner and angela posch

video documentation: ulrich a. reiterer / uar media

funded by the austrian science fund (fwf): AR 284-g21 in the programme for arts-based research (peek)