Dr. Åsa Dybwad Norman

Biography

Åsa Dybwad Norman is a Senior Lecturer in Textile Art within the Master’s Programme at the University of Gothenburg. She is focused on artistic practices that explore the conditions of practical knowledge in contemporary society. Her work encompasses exhibitions, workshops, seminars, teaching, and text, primarily through artistic projects employing textile techniques such as embroidery and appliqué, resulting in multi-material installations. Dybwad Norman applies a conceptual perspective on textile materials and methods, examining the long political and cultural histories they carry and their physical experiences within relationships. She actively engages with collective practices, such as the arts and crafts collective Den Nya Kvinnogruppen (The New Women’s Group). In 2015, she initiated the research project 'De viljefulla textilarbetarna' (Willful Textile Workers) in collaboration with craft artist and researcher Frida Hållander, Ph.D. This project has taken various forms including an international conference during Stockholm Craft Week 2020 and an exhibition at Mint ABF house in Stockholm, addressing the implications of the Swedish textile industry both locally and globally. Dybwad Norman emphasizes the importance of embodied knowledge in challenging concepts within art and crafts, striving to create space for critical pedagogical discussions.

Research Interests