Morphology – Artist Statement

My work for “Morphology” continues my textile practices of investigating the “Process of Stitch” and the many alternative interpretations.

I have a strong desire to connect the emotional and visual elements of my art to the viewer.

I became increasingly fascinated by the explosive birth of “coloured form” rising from multiple layers of decomposing matter as if representational of a short, dynamic, must see performance.

Transient Soul - Morphology Exhibition

It was important to combine and merge the contradiction of the vibrant colours with the murky, muddy colours of earth, weathered rock and decaying matter.

I would see and interpret these “spirit beings” as strong and dominant textile structures. The organic forms would rise in clusters from a layered background of dyed fabric as would appear as if suspended in space.

Legend has it that when lichen grows on headstones it takes on the form of the person buried beneath.  This is very evident in my work titled “In Waiting”.

My personal criteria was not to specifically emulate the realistic visual images of fungi form into textile “picture images” but, to present contemporary art with visual impact, tone, and texture predominantly using a single technique and the many variables.  Most importantly my art must give maximum indulgence, pleasure and curiosity to both the viewer and the wearer. I am known to relentlessly play with a single traditional technique and muck with it.  Blending, fusing, layering, coiling and realising the numerous spontaneous alternatives.

My obsessive nature and curiosity for variation lead me to create and combine various assemblage ideas for the textured works.  Cords were used to create fabric, wispy edges and ends, to add textural sculptural effects as well as to embellish the surface. My wearables in this exhibition although designed from a traditional pattern, take on a life of their own becoming wraps to drape and adorn the body as the fungi and lichen nourishes and cloaks the spirits that lay beneath the earth.