Blown away by this exhibition – the range of techniques, the colour, the concepts, the beauty. Most of all, by the raw emotion expressed: anger, sadness, discomfort. It made me realise that beautiful art can also be challenging and unsettling.
Most interesting to me were the smaller details – the colour contrasts, the visible stitches and the use of words and language. I think the things I appreciate most about the use of textiles in this context is how they combine approachability – it looks as if the thing can be handled – with craftsmanship – this is something that is most likely done by hand – but don’t need to be cuddly or cosy.
The first of the pieces (Ghada Amer, Pink Landscapes, 2007) below uses sewn outlines of the naked female form that you can only see up close. Tracey Emin’s quilt has bold, unfeminine, unflinching language – it is shocking and brave. Angela Su’s Sewing Together My Split Mind (2020) uses human hair. I had a very visceral reaction to this – it is so beautiful but also extremely repulsive, and I am in awe of the time it must have taken to construct.
The use of colour is another big inspiration for me here.
hannahbailey.org 