KOTI
Medium: Fibre Arts and Paper
Location: West Vancouver, BC
Member Since: 1987
After graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in Geology, Kaarina worked in the resource sector for more than a decade before enrolling at Capilano University for training in craft and design.
Her handbags and evening bags are crafted from both new silk and reclaimed fabric from vintage kimonos. The bags are embellished with vintage elements such as Art Deco buttons and mid-century brooches and are characterised by their striking geometry.
Artist Statement
In my work, I try to reflect the harmony and balance I so admire in traditional Japanese craft, as well as the geometry of Art Deco. It could be that my fondness for precise, geometric forms is a legacy from a previous career in computer mapping.
My label ‘KOTI’ means ‘home’ in Finnish, which is a tribute to my Finnish mother, who taught me how to sew and to maintain exacting standards.