Curiosities of the Natural World

A series of bespoke silk scarves exhibited at L’Aiguille en Fete in Paris 6th - 9th February 2014 and Stockport Link Gallery 22nd March - 10th May.

 

Scarf Designs

My work derives from the idea of Cabinets of Curiosity: microcosms of the natural world. Intriguing landscapes full of colour and detail disappear into infinite white space - insights into a world that overflows with beauty. 

Inspiration

The abstract designs were inspired by my own collection of rocks taken from the south coast of England. I have presented an exploded view of their unique surface patterns, which become curious and ambiguous with imaginative potential. Other found natural forms such as flowers, leaves and seeds feature in my work cascading into the surrounding space. I have focused on their intimate details, revealing the wonder of these small modest forms.  

Manchester Museum’s collection of butterflies and birds inspired my vivid colour palettes. In particular, the exotic species and close arrangement of different specimens offered diverse juxtapositions of colour.  Furthermore, my sequin embellishment reflects the decorative structure of coral with its pattern of clusters.  The Museum’s display on coral revealed how this hidden sea beauty has value and ornamental appeal.

Process

Through a combination of textile processes, I have explored the relationship between the drawn, printed and stitched mark.

Drawing was an important starting point: Resist techniques with ink, bleach and masking fluid enabled me to build up multiple layers of marks using a variety of brushes and sponges. This provided a painterly quality to my designs, which, alongside the intense colours and fluid tones, have a very lively and expressive feel. 

These designs were translated onto crepe-de-Chine through hand and digital print, and then embellished to create an intricate surface. My embroidery emulates qualities from the printed pattern; I stitched flowing lines and marks on the industrial Cornelly machines using vary threads and shifting yarn colours. Additional shimmering sequins create an opulent, encrusted surface. These were cut from plastic on an eyelet machine and sewn into clusters that disperse across the design.