Christina Murphy

Conceived by VICTORIA BRADFORD Styrbicki
Armature by Porche Advanced Systems, LLC
Lausanne Biennial, 2025
Cotton yarn, fiberglass hoop, steel truss
5′ dia. x 16′

Lausanne Biennial (aka, Hoop Net) is a crochet sculpture inspired by a photograph and developed through collaboration, sampling, and structural planning. After discussing mesh patterns and scale, various stitches were tested to evaluate their spacing and form. Two patterns were selected and used to create distinct sections of the net.

The sculpture measures 196 inches in length, with a width of 60 inches at both the top and bottom and 24 inches at its narrowest point. It was worked in three continuous sections—top and bottom as mirrored forms—using 17 balls of yarn (totaling 4,199 yards) and completed over 77.5 hours, weighing over 8 pounds. It is constructed in continuous rounds, with each stitch calculated based on stitch height and width to ensure proper shaping and smooth transitions between sections.

Most of the net was crocheted outdoors at a Washington County park near the Mississippi River, with the natural setting informing the slow, meditative rhythm of the work.