So it’s two months until the Prism Textiles Dictionary exhibition opens, and I’m still very much at the “work in progress” stage.
Partly this is because I’m working on a much bigger scale than is normal for me. Usually, I can wrap my work in tissue paper, put it in a shoebox, and get on the tube to deliver it. This time I’m not even sure it will fit in my (small) car!
Initially I was dismayed by the chosen theme of “Dictionary”. To me that represented text and words, while my work is much more abstract. And basketry is not the ideal medium with which to create words.
However, I was clearing some bookshelves last year in preparation for our kitchen extension when I came across some old English-Chinese dictionaries from when I was learning Mandarin 40 years ago. And it got me wondering whether I could physically use the dictionaries themselves in some way. So I removed the pages, cut them into strips, and twisted them into cordage. I am now weaving the cordage into structures inspired by the Tower of Babel, using looping and macrame techniques.
I’ve done the same with other foreign language dictionaries acquired from charity shops.
Because the works are not yet finished, I’m only showing some detailed close ups here. Closer to the exhibition I’ll post images of the finished work (hopefully!).
