/ˈfilo/

machine learning traditional craftmanship

The installation titled /ˈfilo/ explores the interplay between the wirework silversmithing tradition and the ornamental embroidery of Ioannina, focusing on their shared characteristic—the single, continuous stroke of their designs. Drawing inspiration from the Italian word “filo” (thread or wire), the project examines how these traditional crafts, deeply embedded in Ioannina’s cultural heritage, evolved in parallel and eventually declined. The work questions whether contemporary technologies, like machine learning, can contribute to reinterpreting these crafts.

The project draws upon two traditional techniques: filigree, a method using silver wire to create delicate lace-like patterns, and the intricate gold-thread embroidery of the pirpiri, a luxurious sleeveless coat that symbolized wealth and lineage. The pirpiri was passed down through generations, encapsulating the cultural and familial bonds of Epirotic women. Both techniques reflect a blend of Eastern decorative influences and Western baroque and rococo aesthetics, emblematic of Ioannina’s historical position as a cultural crossroads.

Through extensive research in museum archives and private collections, the artist documented designs from 19th-century artifacts, creating a digital database. This dataset was then used to train a machine-learning algorithm, which generated new patterns by blending the motifs and structures of the two crafts. These algorithmic designs form the basis of the installation, visually manifesting a speculative dialogue between two crafting practices traditionally displayed on women’s bodies.

Installed on the historic walls of Ioannina’s castle, the work symbolizes the transmission of cultural heritage across generations. The blending of human skill and algorithmic design reimagines these traditional crafts not as static artifacts but as living, adaptive practices. By bridging the past with a speculative future, the project invites reflection on how technology can sustain and transform cultural identity through creative reinterpretation.

Technical construction support: Manolis Vitsaxakis

The work is commissioned by Onassis Stegi for the “Plásmata ΙΙ: Ioannina” exhibition.

Photos by Pinelopi Gerasimou for Onassis Stegi