|
Transition and Influence
the interface between cloth and culture
The emergence of what could be considered ‘global’ artistic
practice has not automatically created cross-cultural understanding.
However, it seems that cloth provides a continuous undercurrent
between cultures; it is both common to all cultures and culture-specific.
Textile has a social, political and utilitarian history,
moving across and between continents and peoples. It is a
shared activity that stirs both conscious and unconscious
memory. It is a language connecting practitioners in different
cultures, as evidenced in their approaches and practice.
Exchange and collaboration has been the
heart of previous projects, and this theme continues to be
central to ‘Transition and Influence’. All participating
artists and institutions will collaborate on different levels
of exchange. The University College for the Creative Arts
and the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts have been working
together on the project from the beginning towards the final
exhibition: ‘cloth and culture now’.
‘Transition and Influence’ will
investigate the links between contemporary textile practice,
strong traditional practice and overlapping global influences.
It will offer a framework for the study of contemporary textile
practice within a cultural specific, trans-national and cross-cultural
context.
This website will play a major role in
the project and will be developed over the next few months.
Selected textile artists in all participating countries will
contribute their experiences to the site, and engage is discussion
through the site. It is also hoped to put in place an archive
image bank.
The outcomes will be:
•
A major international exhibition entitled ‘cloth and
culture now’. Opening in early 2008 at the Sainsbury
Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich and touring to participating
countries.
• A substantial publication documenting
case studies of textile practice in all the participating
countries published end 2007.
• An extensive education programme
throughout participating countries, beginning Autumn 2006.
Up to 6 artists from each country will
be selected as Case Studies for the book and to take part
in the website. 3 artists from each country will be selected
to take part in the exhibition ‘cloth and culture now’.
Lesley Millar
more
images >
|
