‘Textiles hold strong cultural ties for societies living in the Diaspora’
In this exhibition my works are made up of “fancy” and “Dutch wax” prints, traditional cloth and objects that are closely associated with contemporary and traditional West African cultural costume. The work aims to exemplify relationships, tell stories and make links to journeys of cultures and identities. In my practice I especially recycle fabrics from my own wardrobe, collect from other wearers and make regular trips to glean from the cutting room floors of tailors working in local West African communities. In making my work I also use the latest fabrics, this is an essential aspect of the process which relates to wearers of costume in this country who always seek to dress to the height of fashion by obtaining the latest designs from their home countries or tailors here who stock them. For me in using contemporary textiles and combining them with the more traditional I touch upon the historical journey, furthermore links are made to the objects and attachments I use as representative of protective elements.
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| Confronting the Other, 40x40cm mixed media on textile 2012 |
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| 'Life' mixed media on textile 40x30cm 2012 |
