The materials consist of fabrics from previous works, second-hand clothing, and materials collected through the artist’s personal network, combined with new materials where necessary. By cutting, sewing, and assembling these elements, Plur builds layered compositions. What might otherwise have been discarded becomes an active part of the works, making reuse a central premise of the series.

The project is grounded in an exploration of the relationship between humans, textiles, and their surroundings. Plur examines how we are shaped by the places we inhabit and the time we live in, and how this is reflected in what we surround ourselves with and wear. At the same time, the works address how environments change over time—through the shifting light of the day, the seasons, and human impact.

The title is drawn from the article “What Happens When It’s Too Hot to Make Fashion?”, published by Business of Fashion, a leading digital plattform for the fashion industry (2024). It highlights how climate change affects the global textile industry, particularly through rising temperatures and extreme weather in production regions. In Plur’s work, the title also functions as an open statement—“am I too hot for fashion, or is the world?”—where this ambiguity becomes an entry point into the works. Through reworking and assembling used textiles, she explores the role of clothing and textiles in a world shaped by climate change, and how the artist’s own role is implicated in this.

With a background in fashion design, Plur consistently uses clothing as a point of departure for reflection. Through materials and associations with dress, she engages with questions of identity and belonging in contemporary society. Her works continue to evolve and take new directions, forming part of an artistic practice in constant motion.

Tonje Plur (b. 1985, Oslo, NO) has a craft certificate in dress and costume design (2005) and a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in clothing design from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts (2012 - 2017).

Her artistic practice can be described as a combination of craft, fine art and fashion design. Plur works primarily as an artist but utilizes techniques from craft and fashion industries; in her voluminous sculptures, seam and knitting are used in combination with a variety of textile materials and surfaces. Plur is interested in how a variation of techniques, materials and surfaces intersect both visually and tactilely, and is known for her rich combinations of techniques and materials, creating structure and three-dimensional surfaces.

Plur is acquired by the National Museum of Norway.