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May 1, 2023 In Uncategorized

Magdalena Abakanowicz Exhibition

    

 

A few weeks ago I finally made to the epic exhibition of Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz. One of Poland’s most successful artists, Magdalena transformed weaving from two dimensions into sculptures and was a pioneer for art installations. This is the first major exhibition of her work in the UK since 1975. Her Abakans are towering soft woven sculptures and you can walk around them and feel truly immersed in their environment.

As you would expect from Tate Modern, this is an incredibly thorough exhibition. You can watch interviews with Magdalena explaining her ethos, showing her weaving and the sculptures in situ over the decades. A timeline wall explains her artistic journey and gives you a full picture of the amount of her work and dedication. Personally it was really interesting to see how her work developed from more conventional 2 dimensional wall hanging tapestries to her Abakans. It’s also a reminder how colours come in and out of fashion. The rich autumnal colours are now back in vogue so despite their age seem new.

Everyone I know who had visited the exhibition loved it so I was full of high expectations. As we all know art is subjective and while I admire the skill, impact and lets be honest the sheer logistics of weaving pieces on this scale they didn’t make my heart sing. Other people viewing the exhibition seemed captivated but I felt oddly detached from the experience. But isn’t this the point of art? It is all about how you connect with a piece which makes it such a powerful medium. However you feel about Magdalena’s work this is definitely an exhibition to experience but hurry it finishes on May 21st.

 

Magdalena Abakanowicz Every Tangle of Rope and Thread is on until 21st of May at Tate Modern

https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/magdalena-abakanowicz

 

April 24, 2023 In Art, Design

Beyond the Streets exhibition

         

 

 

 

 

 

Sources of inspiration are different for everyone and I’m taking a rare break from the world of textile art to share details of a Street Art and Graffiti exhibition. If you’re looking for inspiration for your practice or just want to surround yourself a brilliant dose of creativity I thoroughly recommend visiting BEYOND THE STREETS LONDON at the Saatchi Gallery. 

Featuring over 100 artists from cities around the globe, it is immaculately exhibited over three floors – an impressive 70,000 square feet! Names of artists you instantly recognise (such as Keith Haring) to unknown gems show their skills and originality through paintings, photographs and installations. 

Besides the art work itself, the curation by graffiti historian Roger Gastman is exceptional. A wall of images of hundreds of subway trains, a room where QR codes cover the floor and walls and a pop up record store where you can step back in time and pay an old favourite record all create memorable experiences. There are also some pieces such as a neon acrylic mural by Maya Hayuk that would make sensational quilts. 

By taking street art into a world renowned gallery it is arguably impossible not to make street art into a corporate and established genre. But put this thought to one side, immerse yourself in a world of colour, graphics and history and you’ll have a great time. 

BEYOND THE STREETS LONDON runs until 9th May 2023 at Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, London, SW3 4RY.

 

www.saatchigallery.com

 

February 20, 2023 In Textile Art

New solo exhibition by Eri Imamura

                

Images clockwise from top left: Living in a Bubble;  Numb; Breathe; details from Living in a Bubble

 

In 2020 I interviewed Japanese textile artist Eri Imamura who creates human sculptures by meticulously beading antique kimonos. Eri currently has a solo exhibition featuring 10 of her stunning artworks, including six new pieces.

 

Inside Manga Bubbles まんがバブルのうちがわ is Eri’s response to the Coronavirus lockdown.  “Relying on the Internet to erase our fears and connect virtually to eachother, [lockdown] isolation was a strangely futuristic experience impacting our minds. The virtual world took over the actual reality. Our existence has become “2.5 dimensional”: halfway between a 2D virtual reality and a 3D physical reality.”

 

Eri has created a 2.5D reality for her current exhibition. It is both immersive and reflective, with hundreds of round mirrors reflecting both the viewer and the beaded work. The viewer is also encouraged to take photographs, further blurring the boundaries between the real and the virtual. “This art project offers a counter-current experience to the viewer: an objective look at our condition and environment from the fictional world of manga bubbles to the physical reality.”

To find out more about Eri’s work read her interview here 

 

Inside Manga Bubbles is exhibiting at Warin Lab Contemporary in Bangkok, Thailand until March 18th For more information visit https://warinlab.com/exhibitions/inside-manga-bubbles/

 

 

February 13, 2023 In Textile Art

Inside Angie Parker’s studio

Angie in her studio. Photograph by Andre Pattenden

 

It was not a decision taken lightly when textile artist Angie Parker bought two tonnes of wool when Jason Collingwood from Collingwood Designs announced his retirement. Angie has happily been weaving with it ever since creating stunning rugs and textile art panels using  the weft faced technique Krokbragd.

 

Read Angie’s interview and see more of her work here 

Visit Angie’s website at http://www.angieparkertextiles.com/

January 26, 2023 In Textile Art, Uncategorized

Tenuous Threads exhibition at Atlantic Gallery

 

Images clockwise from top left: Seas, Seize, Cease Ruth Jeyaveeran; Entanglements 3, Natayla Khorover; Mentha Pulegium Joanna Hoge; Fiber Abstract No. 1 Calla Michaelides; Thy Strength Never Dies by Shari Wolf Boraz; Concealed Desire II Rima Day.

 

With more and more textile art exhibitions springing up around the world I’m hoping to bring you news about ones that catch my eye. The tactile nature of textile art can never be reproduced online but the skill, creativity, subject matter and composition can be, so I’m thrilled to share with you a fabulous exhibiton at Atlantic Gallery in New York. Tenuous Threads is a two-part exhibition featuring over 100 artists using fiber and mixed media. 

Curated by Patricia Miranda, Tenuous Threads ‘alludes to the delicate lines that bring us together and set us apart: that join us yet repel us.’ I’ve been lucky enough to interview some of the featured artist. Click on their names to see more of their work and read their interviews, they include Erica Green, Merill Comeau and Michael Rohde. 

 

Tenuous Threads Part I until Feb 11th. Part II February 14th – March 4th, 2023 at Atlantic Gallery 548 West 28th Street, Suite 540, New York, NY 10001 https://atlanticgallery.org/

 

 

 

October 20, 2022 In Art, Textile Art

100 Days of Amazing Textile Art Week 5

 

If you are taking a break from social media, or you prefer to read on a website, here is a catch up of who has been feaured for Week 5 of 100 Days of Amazing Textile Art. 

 

American artist Michele Fandel Bonner uses reclaimed materials.  www.michelebonner.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelefandelbonner/

 

Incredible hand embroidery by French artist Cath Orain. pestorain.wixsite.com/designbroderie  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathorain/

 

Tapestry weaving by Mexican artist Wence Martinez martinezstudio.com   Instagram https://www.instagram.com/martinezstudio_doorcounty/

 

Hand embroidery on recycled textiles by British artist Rachel Pearcey https://www.instagram.com/rachelpearcey/. 

 

Hand embroidery by Chilean artist Jose Romussi www.joseromussi.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jose_romussi/

 

Felting by American artist Susan Davis Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamsusandavis/

 

And machine knitting and mixed media by American artist Adrienne Sloane. www.adriennesloane.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrienne_sloane/. Adrienne was also the Inspirational Monday interview which you can read here.