saori_tsuji_chiso_kimono_yuzen_faye_mcnulty_wcmt_2018

13 November: Introduction and day one - Chiso and the kimono craftsmen

November 14, 2017 in WCMT 2017

Following a whirlwind visit to Kawaguchi and Itchiku Kubota’s museum, I arrived in Kyoto ready to spend my week with craftsmen of Kyoto. One of the oldest and most revered kimono manufacturers in Japan’s history, Chiso was established in 1555 within Kyoto – the capital at that time. Chiso’s production manager, who guided me through each stage of the kimono making process, graciously hosted me.

Photography by Mark Blower for the Camden Arts Centre.

LET ME TELL YOU A STORY / SEMINAR SERIES

August 31, 2016

Textile Narratives: Politics, Belonging, Material Culture and Memory

Led by master printmaker Faye McNulty and cultural theorist Dr. Sian Weston

What universal issues emerge from Duro Olowu’s curation of Making & Unmaking? ‘Let Me Tell You a Story’ will draw out key elements highlighted in the exhibition, including cultural appropriation, cultural identity, textiles and protest, collecting, collections and bricolage, and gender stereotypes. Each week, participants will cover two distinct areas in order to understand the wider meaning of the works included in the exhibition. In the final seminar, participants will have an opportunity to take part in a ‘show and tell’ session, where they deconstruct a treasured object from their own collection.

McNulty and Weston take polar opposite positions in terms of ‘making’ and ‘un-making’:
McNulty is an acknowledged master of making – she understands construction and the measures needed to create objects.
Weston uses fashion and textiles to deconstruct meta-themes that reflect a wider society – she picks at the seams to understand the role of fashion, craft and photography within the cultural landscape.

A wooden print block (unknown year) and fabrics from Yinka Shonibare's installations 'The Victorian Philanthropist's Parlour' and 'Nelson's Ship in a Bottle'.

Over the weeks of August, myself and Dr Sian have been leading seminars at the Camden Arts Centre. We were overwhelmed with the engagement of the participants, unafraid to discuss and impressive grasp of the content.

Thank you Camden Arts Centre for the invitation, we enjoyed the exhibition greatly.

Research: Marian Clayden

May 03, 2016 in research

After finishing the second Innovation Project with the Topshop print design team at the beginning of April, myself and fellow print designer Elizabeth Clay visited the Fashion and Textiles Museum in Bermondsey for a textile nerd-out.

We just caught the final days of Art Textiles; a retrospective of luxurious art textiles in silk, velvet, cotton and felted wool by internationally collected designer Marian Clayden. The exhibition celebrates the influence of a British-born artist who transformed psychedelic tie-dyed fabrics into a million-dollar fashion business in the United States.

stencils used as part of the tie dye process achieved soft, beautiful motifs.

Tie dye is having quite the moment, having sampled it for Victoria, Victoria Beckham last year and have been exploring shibori techniques for a upcoming Couture Collection (more on this will be revealed once the show has happened).

This was a great show, demonstrating the productive and highly skilled work Clayden created. She demonstrated a high level of control on what can be a very difficult to predict process.

Another inspired curatorial programming from the museum, and very much looking forward to the upcoming Missoni exhibition opening this week.

http://www.ftmlondon.org/