The transformation of felt into an art object in the postmodern era

This research explores the transformation of felt traditionally a handicraft material into an artistic object after the late 20th century, and how this shift was shaped by postmodern art movements. One of the theoretical starting points of the study is the symbolic meaning Joseph Beuys attributed to felt within his artistic practice. The aim of the research is to reveal, through an interdisciplinary approach, how felt has been re-contextualized as an art object beyond its conventional uses within the framework of postmodern art. The study examines the positioning of felt within postmodern artistic discourse by focusing on representative examples from performance art, installation, feminist art, fiber/textile art, and stop motion animation. The material for the research consists of digital portfolios, personal websites, and online interviews of artists who have utilized felt as a visual language since the post-1960s. A qualitative research design and descriptive analysis were employed as the methodology, with the data interpreted through written and digital sources. The research is limited to the works of selected artists. The felt-based practice component of the study is executed in an eclectic style under the influence of feminist art, emphasizing the work of Frida Kahlo.