“I sat with my family around the dinner table, they aren’t creatives, and my interests and art making are sometimes strange to them. I told them that I could knit! My sister Lina couldn’t believe it and the rest of the family completely lost it. I ended up demonstrating my unique style of finger foot knitting to them” – Annika Strand
Inspired by Artist in Residence project 花弁 Hanabira (Gentle Petal), Annika will be teaching visitors how to create beautiful knitted-works of art using the finger-knitting technique.
Designed to be inclusive for people with all abilities, this workshop draws on Annika’s lived experience as an artist who also has Cerebral Palsy.
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Annika Strand was born in Sydney, in 2001 to Swedish parents. Due to having a disability called Cerebral Palsy, she has uncontrollable movements throughout her body. Annika has always been passionate about art and her biggest inspiration comes from painting nature.
Annika first started art in her early teens but because of her movements, the idea of painting realistic images was at first an obstacle. Through determination and pursuing her dream, she found ways to conquer her obstacles and discovered new and unique ways of expressing herself when she paints. Annika uses different parts of her body to create finer details, like her nose and many other parts of her body.
Annika has a Diploma of Graphic Design. She uses a modified keyboard and mouse to help create her designs. This has provided her with a new avenue to express her creativity and expand her skills.
She has also been involved in numerous exhibitions including a duo exhibition When Two Worlds Meet and Show And Tell. Annika is also regularly involved with HOTA Gold Coast and Art From The Margins.
