Pippa Wilson Autzen

WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABILITY

Through these samples, I wanted to explore using plastic as a fabric, and medium for embroidery. For the first sample I used free machine embroidery to understand how the plastic would react. I ripped holes in the plastic material and stitched around them to create this interesting pattern, and also explore the fragility of this plastic, the ability to rip it and manipulate it, and yet the intense durability and inability to destroy or dispose of soft plastics safely, and in an environmentally friendly way. In the second sample I used hand embroidery (blanket stitch) to once again accentuate the whole I had ripped into the material.

I also used an oil pastel to mimic the shapes and lines created in my sampling on paper.

Plastic pollution is one of the issues that urgently needs attention and solution. Upcycling plastic into art and using it as a tool, both inspiration and medium is such an important way to raise awareness and reduce plastic pollution. Jessica Den Hartog is a great example of an artist using waste materials to create exciting, colourful, graphic art.

For these samples, I experimented and explored mark making using a plastic water bottle to create this line pattern, and then worked into that with a yellow oil pastel. Alisa Burke, my inspiration for these samples, is a great example of an artist who uses plastic waste for creative print making. I also placed my hand stitching sample over the top of the print to create some interesting layers and really take advantage of the transparency of the plastic.

WEEK 2: EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

To create these drawings, I wanted to explore this relationship between physical, traditional art, and digital art. First, I used soft, chalk pastels to create this expressive drawing of a flower. I then experimented with recreating this image digitally, using pro create. I was heavily inspired by David Hockney’s series of iPad paintings, and his ability to emulate the same style and feeling digitally, as he does with paint and a canvas. I was shocked to find out Hockney had been producing digital artwork since 2010, a concept that feels very new and recent.

WEEK 3: NATURE

To make these pieces, I used some plants and foliage, that I collected on a walk, as both my inspiration and my material. I painted the plants with black paint and pressed them onto my paper, to create these prints.

Working in harmony with nature, especially as designers, is fundamental to help protect our environment and planet. Using nature and plants to inform and inspire our work, as opposed to exploiting our natural world for monetary gain, is the only way we can continue. Our linear supply chains which promote the idea of ‘take, make, waste’, should look to the cyclical life cycle of nature to create a more sustainable, regenerative model of production.

I also explored some natural dying, using a range of dyes, such as, brown onion skins, turmeric and red cabbage. The use of natural dyes is far more sustainable than the chemical dyes typically used in the fashion and textile industry. The ability to use waste food and plant matter to create such beautiful, vivid colours is very inspiring and a great sustainable practise.

WEEK 4: CULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY

For my work this week, I went to the V&A museum and had a look around their permanent collections, in order to be inspired by some of their religious and cultural pieces. I specifically liked the buddhism section. I decided to include a few drawings I did at the V&A inspired by these pieces. I particularly like the intricate details and shapes featured on the statue.

This piece is called ‘The Mahasiddha Virupa’ from 1403 made from brass and gold leaf. Virupa was one of the ‘great accomplished ones’ revered in Tibetan Buddhism as enlightened beings.

WEEK 5: EMPATHY

Kristen Laurits defines material empathy as ‘an abstract endeavour of perceiving and signifying the encounter through the materiality connecting us.’

I decided to explore the psychology between different colours and the feelings they evoke. For instance, pink evokes feelings of hope, romanticism and empathy. Whereas, blue connotes trust, dependability and calm. I thought it would be interesting to explore how I can use these colours and the different emotions they arouse.

https://www.ceros.com/inspire/originals/evoking-emotion-color-6-brand-examples/

I used a few different mediums, water colour, acrylic, oil pastel and charcoal, to create these two pieces exploring colour. Whilst the red and pink piece connotes warmth, love and safety, the blue piece suggests an emotional, melancholy tone.

REFLECTION

Through this project, I explored a plethora of interesting topics facing our society, learning about issues facing both our environment and our people. These topics are important to be knowledgeable of, in order to create sustainable and informed choices through my textile work. The lectures on sustainability and nature, were particularly inspiring and enjoyable for me, hence I decided to write my report on this theme. I think the need for sustainability is so central at the moment, particularly as a textile designer, and being able to understand the impact our work has on the planet and on society. 

I really enjoyed working with plastic, in week one for introduction to sustainability. Using plastic as fabric for embroidery was something I hadn’t done before and gave such interesting results, through both hand and machine stitching. I was also very pleased with my digital drawing for emerging technologies, as I don’t feel very comfortable normally with working digitally, and yet I was really happy with the colour, shape and depth I was able to achieve. I was also pleased with the range of different techniques I explored during this unit, using both embroidery and paper techniques. 

In terms of challenges, I faced during Intro To, a few of the lectures I found quite difficult to generate responses to, as I was not really used to responding to a topic completely unrelated to my discipline. However, this project has definitely enabled me to develop my research skills and feel far more confident when responding to content I don’t have any previous knowledge about.