For 10 years, FITE has been setting the international textile scene in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, in Clermont-Ferrand.
Created in 2012, FITE is themed and chooses a new theme every two years, with this year being “Play” the topic for the 2024 edition. It takes place in even-numbered years in Clermont-Ferrand and in odd-numbered years in another country. It took place in Vietnam in Huế, in the Philippines in Manila, in Mexico in Mexico City, in a touring format in Romania and will cross Lithuania (from Vilnius to Nida, via Kaunas) in 2023.
Putting diminishing textile skills in the spotlight
Extraordinary textiles refer to extraordinary textile skills and know-how of individuals and collectives: little-known, rare, sometimes disappearing or inaccessible, they have meaning for people since they incorporate skills that convey and ensure the transmission of certain values of human societies.
The 7th edition of “FITE Biennale Textile”, the exhibitions theme of “PLAY” revolves around exploration, participation and joy.
With the 2024 Olympic Games just around the corner, the 7th edition of the FITE's theme, PLAY, invites visitors to embrace to the notion of play, lightness, collaboration, challenge and hope. It's an invitation to take a different path and develop a different perspective on the fundamental issues that are shaking up and revitalising our contemporary society: the environmental crisis, our relationship with digital technology, questions around equality and identity, post-colonial challenges, how to live and work together. Bringing together artists from different nationalities to generate encounters and cross-fertilisation of views.
Printed cotton tissues that represent the textures and origin of each textile, serving as orientation within the exhibition.
“Au fil de la matière” – Covering the whole process from the raw origin to delicately fabricated material.
Immersion
One principle was to create a multisensory environment where visual elements, spatial design, and interactive components come together to enable a captivating experiences.
Post-exhibition
By inviting direct participation and offering tangible takeaways, the experience is designed to leave a lasting impression—one that continues to resonate long after the encounter.
Mediation
By shaping how content is delivered by designing intuitive, engaging formats were created that inform, educate, and invite curiosity.
