On display at Sculpture by the Sea, the land art event that brings the Sydney coastline to life every year, is “Seabilia”, Elena Redaelli’s latest work created using waste fabric from Sitip’s production processes. A creation that draws attention to the environment and its fragility in the face of human activity, “Seabilia” is a reminder of how precious yet delicate this balance is, and how humans must become mindful of their actions before the effects end up being completely irreversible.
Sitip’s commitment to environmental sustainability struck a chord with Elena Redaelli, and a meeting between the Bergamo-based textile company and the artist from Erba, Italy, led to “Seabilia”, a work that will be displayed as part of Sculpture by the Sea on Tamarama Beach near Bondi in Sydney.
It’s one of the most popular events to take place in this corner of Australia, attracting half a million visitors who flock to these Aussie beaches to admire more than one hundred works created by artists from all over the world.
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Held since 1997, this event captures the imagination of its visitors for three weeks each austral spring and, thanks to the vast area it covers, has earned the title of largest annual sculpture exhibition in the world.
The 2023 edition, scheduled to take place from 20 October to 6 November, will feature Elena Redaelli’s work created using waste Native-Cosmopolitan Kyoto fabric which, having failed the company’s quality control tests, was donated to the artist.
A post-consumer recycled circular knit fabric composed of 89% recycled polyester (PLR), 11% elastane (EA), and weighing 240 grams, the Native-Cosmopolitan Kyoto is made from recycled yarns derived from plastic waste that’s been recovered from the environment, particularly from the sea and from recycling centres. The fabric is Bluesign, GRS (Global Recycled Standard) and OEKO-TEX certified, attesting to Sitip’s commitment to environmental responsibility and protection.
During the process, the artist hand-cut the waste fabric and crocheted the pieces together using recycled cotton and other types of thread.
THE SCULPTURE
In the creative mind of the artist, the genesis of “Seabilia” arose from deep in the ocean where tiny creatures inhabit the darkest, least explored parts of the planet. A place where the rhythm of life for the inhabitants is marked by silence and obscurity, while waves and tides agitate the surface above. The life of the ocean, such a vast and imposing environment, is impacted every single day by human activity, slowly weakening its delicate balance. “Seabilia” is intended to act as a reminder of how precious yet extremely fragile this balance is, and how humans must become more aware of the consequences of their actions before it’s too late and such a vital asset is lost forever.
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“Following Emersione, a work that was exhibited at the Ex Ateneo in Bergamo during Fiber Storming, a textile art exhibition organised by ArteMorbida Textile Arts Magazine and curated by Barbara Pavan, Seabilia is the second art project where I’ve had the opportunity to utilise SITIP’s fabrics. – explains the artist, Elena Redaelli. Whilst designing this work in preparation for Sculpture by the Sea 2023, knowing and having had first-hand experience of the quality of SITIP’s fabrics, I had no doubts in choosing the perfect material for this new challenge. As it was going to be displayed on the rocks at Tamarama Beach, my installation needed a durable, elastic fabric with structural characteristics capable of withstanding ocean winds and sudden changes in weather. Using waste Native-Cosmopolitan Kyoto fabric was the obvious choice, not just because of its very high quality, but also, and more importantly, because it’s made from recycled yarns derived from plastic waste that’s been recovered from the environment, often even from the sea itself. The different textures and shades of white enabled me to create a varied work that, despite the almost monochromatic tones, conjures a diverse range of tactile sensations. The biomorphic modular composition evokes skeletons of sea creatures that appear to have been deposited onto the rocks by a wave and left there to wither in the blazing Australian sun.”
THE 2022 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
The Sitip Group places a high priority on economic, social and environmental sustainability, and is the driving factor behind the strategic choices made by the company and its subsidiaries. And, for many years, it’s these decisions that have led to the various achievements which testify to a constant commitment to growing the group, as well as to enabling the local territory and the milieu that surrounds it to prosper. The result of this work is evident from the company’s activities on a number of levels, all of which are highlighted in the Sustainability Report published in 2023 (which refers to 2022), where the Group underlines its plan for becoming more sustainable from a 360-degree perspective.
These achievements include the following: during 2022, the Sitip Group reduced its environmental impact by decreasing the CO2 emissions it produced by 22% compared to 2021, by purchasing 30% more recycled raw material with respect to the previous year, and by investing in empowering its employees through a total of 6,072 training hours. Other objectives were also achieved during 2022, from gaining ISO 50001 certification to officially joining the UN Global Compact initiative. Other certifications, such as SA8000 (the Ethical Certification of Social Responsibility) and the ISO 14064 Carbon Footprint standard, constitute some of the Group’s objectives for 2023, a further sign of its tireless commitment to increasing the sustainability of its production.
About Sitip
Established in 1959 by Luigi Pezzoli in the heart of the Seriana Valley, near Bergamo, Italy, and currently managed by the second generation of that same family, Sitip is a benchmark brand in the production of synthetic and stretch warp-knitted fabrics, as well as circular knitted fabrics, for technical industrial applications and clothing, particularly sportswear and urbanwear. A major aspect of the company’s approach is the research and development it conducts in close cooperation with its clients and partners, enabling Sitip to become a key player in the textile sector. A strong commitment towards reducing its environmental impact and a desire to constantly focus on taking an ethical approach resulted in the company publishing its first Sustainability Report in 2022, underpinned by various certifications, including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, bluesign®, OEKO-TEX® and GRS. Sitip S.p.A. exports to all corners of the globe from its Italian production sites in Cene in the province of Bergamo, Asolo in the province of Treviso through its subsidiary Accoppiatura Di Asolo, and from Malta through its subsidiary Nylon Knitting Ltd. The company employs more than 600 people and its consolidated turnover for 2022 was 120 million euros.
About Elena Redaelli
Elena Redaelli was born in Erba, Italy, and is highly active on the international environmental art scene. Her works have been exhibited in Europe, Asia, the United States and Africa, and some of her works are included in permanent collections in the United States, Russia and Italy. Redaelli’s work explores matter and its processes of transformation, creation and decay through participatory art projects where artistic boundaries are challenged and authorship becomes collective and shared. The methods of research and production are entirely complementary, merging into public, environmental and site-responsive art projects that involve long production times, physical work, handcraft techniques and organic processes. The artist values, researches and employs ancient crafts: hand-weaving, knitting, crocheting, felting, embroidery and papermaking using sustainable techniques that favour the use of natural, recycled and local materials.
