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| Ellie Simpson modelling Lichen Morphology. Photo: grantwellsphoto |
Those of you who follow me on social media will be familiar
with a lot of this, so please bear with me! On Friday night I had been sitting
on the couch, fully aware that my work was on the catwalk in
paper on skin, in Burnie, Tasmania, feeling edgy, and
trawling Pinterest for yet more images of lichen and fungus, when I received a
phone call from the showcase to inform me that I was the winner of this
biennial event! I do believe I gasped in excitement!! For the next 10 minutes I
was kept on the phone for a 'live-cross' when the announcement was actually
made - this was hilarious, as I could understand nothing - it sounded like I
was in a fish bowl. It was all a bit surreal.
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| Isolda, 2014 |
Lichen Morphology was created by dismantling the structure
of Isolda into pieces, 5 of which were used. Using tissue paper from Reverse
Garbage, I spent days covering them in papier maché, then spray painting with
silver, gold and black, ending up with a lovely silvery wood colour. I was inspired
by 2 photos in particular of lichen found on my travels - one in Hamilton NZ,
the other in Port Arthur, Tasmania. The inspiration from these never got resolved in my Morphology exhibition in 2011, so it was good to be able to go back to it. With a requirement to be 80% paper, I had to look sideways from my usual textile materials, but found a
happy medium in silk paper, which I wet and ironed into individual 'lichen',
coloured with glitz sprays, singed a little with a heat gun, crinkle ironed, free-motion
embroidered (hand dyed crochet thread in the bobbin), and sewed on pieces of
dyed and painted silk cocoons, before stitching onto the armature itself. Phew!
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| Photo: grantwellsphoto |
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| Photo: grantwellsphoto |
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| Photo: grantwellsphoto |
I also re-used Isolda's shoes. Then I thought about the fact
that someone was going to have to wear this, and that they might want something
on underneath the framework, so made a flesh coloured leotard, and printed it
with a lino cut of lichen I had made as part of exhibition exploration. Lichen
Morphology will be on display with other entries of
paper on skin at the
Burnie Regional Art Gallery 22 June to 29
July.
The morning after the big news, I hit the road with Matt,
accompanying him on a work trip to Coffs Harbour and Casino. Sadly, I am a
rubbish car companion, as driving just puts me to sleep -even when I am behind
the wheel....
We walked along the
beach, discovering along the way a seagull 'Village of the Damned' - so many
leg issues!! One limping, one missing, and this dude, with the leg just out
airing!!
On Sunday I had a lovely
morning walking along the beach, exploring
Muttonbird Island, finding the
perfect stick to make a staff, and finding a market with something fantastic
(unlike recent travels)! I bought myself this present as it was just so
appropriate - a beautiful little segment of lichen, fern, and a wee crystal -
from Tasmania!! The lichen exhibits the same features which inspired
Lichen
Morphology, so thank you
Wildwood Earth!
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| Looking back into Coffs Harbour from Muttonbird Island |
Many thanks to all at
paper
on skin - I'm absolutely thrilled - and in particular, my beautiful model, Ellie Simpson.
So thrilled you were a part of 'paper on skin', Svenja. Apologies you had to listen to 'washing machine' static whilst the early announcements were made. You must have wondered what on earth we were doing! Thanks for 'hanging on the telephone', as Deb Harry would say, as it was lovely to have you say a few words. Congratulations, again, Lyndal and the 'paper on skin' team
ReplyDeleteHahaaaa - it was hilarious! Such an exciting night for me, and again, my thanks to all involved for making it happen.
ReplyDelete