Hand and Lock Prize (2016)
Embroidered masks with vintage sequins and beads
Emma Cassi
``I use fibers and textile to express my relationship with the world``
Passementerie Bowl (2020)
25 x 20 cms
fabric basket made with wool and cotton braids, vintage silk passementerie
Collaboration with TextileSeekers (2020)
baskets made with Textile from Vietnam from TextileSeekers
The Secret Teaching of Plants (2020)
35 x 130 cms
silk flag dyed with black tea and curcuma embroidered with Camomile flowers and vintage cotton threads.
10 minutes with textile artist Emma Cassi
Firstly where did you grow up and where do you live now?
I grow up in France near Dijon in a village and moved to the UK 22 years ago.
I live in Windsor.
What is your background in textiles?
I am a self-taught embroiderer, I have been practicing for more than 20 years.
I studied at École des Beaux-Arts in Dijon, learning drawing, etching and installation.
What is it about textiles as an art form that appeals to you?
I have a special relationship with textile especially silk and fine cotton, it is like a perfume, a “madeleine” that take me back to sweet souvenirs. It is calming like a warm tea. The softness of fibers between my fingers is the most important in my practice.
What techniques do you use?
I do embroidery most of the time. Recently I started using a sewing machine to create fabric baskets.
How do you describe your work?
I am an artist using fibers and textile to express my relationship with the world. It is first tactile; a soft touch, this is why I wanted to included the word “Silk” to my new projects.
How do you create a piece?
I plan embroidery projects while walking in the woods or listening to music. At the moment I listen to Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek or Laboratorium Pieśni.
I go with the flow getting inspired by what I read or learn on different subjects such as quantum physics, herbalism or permaculture.
For instance, the masks for Hand & Lock was an homage to Hilma Af Klint and an introspection to help me connect with her work. I also get ideas when I travel seeing the textile and craftmanships from Morocco, Japan or Kenya.
I know this is a hard question but how long does a bigger piece take?
The masks (series of four) made for Hand & Lock took me four months.
For the baskets, I had previous embroidery work that I cut into strips, I recycled my past work so it is usually a long process.