I love the tactile quality of tapestry, it is strong and dense, really hardwearing as a medium for cushions, but I also appreciate all the time and effort that has gone into making them. They have a richness of texture and the fact that they are made up of hundreds of tiny crosses on squares gives them a pixelated quality.
Here are a few of mine.
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However, I have just recently come across the work of a tapestry artist called Frederique Morrel, and it has blown my mind! She does make humble cushions and footstools by piecing together well chosen vintage tapestries, plus some tapestries that I'm sure she must commission for their colours, such as these:
But she has laso taken it to artistic extremes and clothed shop mannequins in tapestry! I'm not sure about this!
I've also come across a tapestry artist from Melbourne called Susie Stanford, who reupholsters furniture using a patchwork of tapestries. I think it works really well and would like to try something like this myself. The only thing is that it would cost a lot of money for all those tapestries :
The shop RE in Northumberland has reupholstered some vintage Tansad chairs in recycled vintage tapestry, which looks wonderful. I have tried piecing together some tapestries myself in a patchwork, and Ican tell you, it's not that easy. They have to work with each other:
And finally, much closer to my home, ie Leeds, I have come across a textile artist, enigmatically named, Mr Finch. He creates the most exquisitely beautiful insects and creatures from scraps of recycled vintage tapestry:
You can have a look at the rest of his work here: Finch
Who would have thought such beauty and creativity could emerge from the uncosmopolitan provinces of West Yorkshire?! Well me for a start! Look at Barbara Hepworth, a Wakefield girl who became a world reknowned sculptor!
Beauty and creativity can emerge from anywhere, sometimes because one is not surrounded by it, one strives to create it!
