What role does fabric sculpture play in post-internet art practices?

In the evolving landscape of post-internet art, fabric sculpture emerges as a critical medium that interrogates the boundaries between physical and digital realities. By incorporating textiles—a traditionally tactile and domestic material—artists challenge the dematerialized ethos of digital culture, grounding virtual concepts in tangible form.

Fabric sculptures often serve as hybrid objects, embedding digital imagery, QR codes, or responsive technologies to create dialogues about memory, labor, and connectivity. For instance, works like Sheila Hicks’ fiber installations or Pae White’s algorithmic weavings explore how handmade processes intersect with algorithmic design, questioning authorship in the age of AI.

Moreover, the material’s cultural associations (e.g., feminized craft, industrial production) allow artists to critique hierarchies within art and technology. As post-internet art prioritizes fluidity, fabric—with its inherent malleability—becomes a metaphor for the unstable, networked identities of our era. This medium not only reclaims materiality but also redefines interactivity, inviting viewers to engage with art beyond screens.