In 2021, design visionary Ganit Goldstein unveiled Rhythm of Matter, a groundbreaking embroidery installation that merged traditional textile techniques with cutting-edge virtual reality. The large-scale piece, measuring 2 × 2 meters, features a flower-patterned fabric with embedded electronics created in partnership with advanced machinery from Saurer. Visitors engaging with the artwork through VR applications experience dynamic animations—petals audibly rustle, shapes subtly shift, and the embroidered surface springs to digital life—highlighting the tactile beauty of embroidery in a digital canvas.
This immersive project exemplifies the powerful synergy between analog craft and digital storytelling. By embedding sensors and using VR technology, Goldstein preserved the integrity of handcrafted detail while expanding the sensory experience. It transforms embroidery from a static visual medium into a responsive, multi-sensory journey—where texture, movement, and narrative coexist. The result encourages viewers to contemplate how traditional handcrafts can evolve and adapt within immersive art frameworks.
Goldstein’s work underscores a broader shift in contemporary art: the fusion of heritage craft with immersive digital formats. As AR and VR continue advancing, similar projects offer exciting prospects for museums, galleries, and artists to breathe new life into textile traditions. Through these hybrid works, audiences are invited to touch, see, and emotionally connect with embroidery in surprisingly modern ways—celebrating the past while co-creating the future
