Seminar: A Diffractive Practice – Vagueness as a Resource in Scientific Research and Art

In systematic scientific material studies, vagueness is generally discouraged. The word "vague" comes from the Latin “vaccus”, meaning vacant, empty, or unoccupied. In German, “woge” refers to a sea swell, evoking the ideas of movement, oscillation, instability, and fluctuation. However, vagueness can also be understood as something free, available, and performative. In 2012, I began incorporating vagueness into both my research and creative practices in collaboration with artist Kajsa G. Eriksson. Now, a decade later, I am drawn to explore how the concept of vagueness has shaped my work, blurring the lines between creative and scientific material exploration.

Lena Berglin is a researcher and designer at the Department of Textile Technology at The Swedish School of Textiles. Alongside her research, Berglin co-manages the artistic studio Vague Research Studios with Visual Artist Ph.D. Kajsa G. Eriksson and Graphic designer Milena Karlsson. Her scientific research focuses primarily on the movement of liquids and moisture within textile structures. This knowledge has applications in fields such as healthcare products and functional clothing, while also offering visually intriguing experiences involving textile fibers, yarns, and structures. Recently, Berglin completed the art project "Technology as Ritual" in collaboration with artist Kajsa G. Eriksson and video artist Maria Magnusson.

The lecture is part of the Higher Seminars at the Swedish School of Textiles. Read more about them here.