Views from Above
Participatory textile work on the diversity of the city
Everyone experiences Chemnitz differently. We see the city through the eyes of its people and their comings and goings, through its nature and architecture, through our memories of other cities or hometowns. Two women – Sabine Hochmuth, who invites her neighbours to drop into her »wool garage« to craft together, and the Berlin-based Finnish artist Kati Hyyppä, alongside a posse of enthusiastic helpers – are weaving these perceptions of the city into textile form. Participants create real and imaginary objects made of felt and embroidery in hands-on workshops you can attend as often as you want. The objects are sewn together to form a large artwork that provides a bird’s eye view of Chemnitz and mirrors the diversity of the (Capital of Culture) city.
This project is supported by the Finnland-Institut Berlin and KONE Garant Aufzug GmbH Chemnitz.
When? Various workshop dates throughout the year; from 18 October 2025, part of the #3000Garagen exhibition
Where? Chemnitz, Wollgarage and other locations
What is shown?
The bird's-eye view workshops have already taken place at various locations and in collaboration with different initiatives - for example with Ukraine-Haus, Inspire or UNDOYARN, at Brühl, in the Wollgarage or in the Schmidtbank-Passage at the Big Table. Since September 2024, people have been busy felting and embroidering in hands-on workshops. by the end of March 2025, more than 70 participants had already created around 100 motifs.
All motifs that relate to Chemnitz's urban space are welcome. So far, the focus has been on well-known landmarks - the following motifs have been created, among others:
Nischel, Red Tower, Congress Hotel, Penguins (sculptures), City Hall, Castle Pond and Castle, Brühl Boulevard, Petrikirche, Central Station, Clock Tower in the Wirkbau, Petrified Forest, Küchwald Park with Park Railway and Cosmonaut Centre, Skate Park in Konkordiapark, Tennis Court, Basketball Court, Rabenstein Castle, Zoo, Botanical Gardens, Arthur House of Culture, Ukraine House, St. Mark's Church, Theodor's Church, St. Peter's Church and the Church of St. Peter. Markus-Kirche, Theodor-Körner-Platz, CFC logo, Lauf-KulTour logo, Esse, synagogue, Jutta Müller Ice Sports Centre, Chemnitz School Model, 50s Ville Diner and the Siegmar Club Cinema.
Numerous flowers, trees and some dogs, cats and birds have also already been designed. However, we are still looking for more people, animals, residential buildings, shops, cafés, schools, means of transport, everyday scenes - and also motifs that have so far only existed in the imagination. Every perspective on Chemnitz is welcome.
Sabine Hochmuth
Sabine Hochmuth (*1972) was born in Karl-Marx-Stadt and has been running her own studio as a felt artist under the name "WollBine" since 2006, which is housed in a garage in the summer. She works with various felting techniques and materials, develops her own projects, runs workshops and accompanies various school projects. In 2024, she is opening her WollGarage for neighbourly exchange on the subject of wool and handicrafts and is thus joining the #3000Garagen project.
Kati Hyyppä
Kati Hyyppä (*1976) is a Finnish artist who combines art with technology and craft. She explores different media and materials: from electronics and code to wood, recycled objects and textiles. Participation, humour and the spirit of DIY and hacker culture are the basic principles of her work. In her objects, installations and workshops, she thematises traditional knowledge, sustainability, self-built electronics and playful learning. She lives and works in Berlin.