Found, discarded and recycled materials (mostly from Barreiro post-industrial wasteland and Lisbon): jute, fabric (some botanically hand-dyed), twine, plastic, nylon, polystyrene, rope, wood, wire, thread
2024
Photo by Celso Rosa
Sack is a response to PADA’s history as a jute factory warehouse, and the nearby CUF toxic wasteland. The bodily form, a container of waste, is made from a hand-stitched patchwork of discarded materials/offcuts I’ve collected in the locality, especially jute sacks. The warp and weft of the weavings reflect grids in urban surrounds. and colours of yellow wild flowers and lichen growing there; reds/oranges of iron and sulphur..
‘This vast sack.. belly of the universe.. womb.. tomb.. unending story..’ (Ursula Le Guin, The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction)
I’ve woven in cross-cultural references. Thinking of the receptacle, holder rather than the sword towards new directions; care and repair.
I made the work in stages, each as a separate iteration. This main (final) piece is iteration III.
PADA
I was selected for an art residency at PADA Studios, Barreiro, near Lisbon, Portugal in February 2024. The residency was a catalyst for a new body of work.
PADA is situated on the edge of an abandoned industrial wasteland, with river Tagus running alongside.
I loved having such a large spacious studio and other facilities to hand. The freedom and time away from other distractions to focus, close proximity of other inspiring artists, all with different routines. Blue skies and some sun, nearby ferry crossings to Lisbon art scene, cycling to local places. Led by Tim Ralston, with curatorial support of Tania Geiroto Marcelino, it was intense, exhausting, but totally absorbing.
The project included an exhibition at the end of the residency - an opportunity to showcase new work in Portugal.
Prior to being hand-stitched together, I installed the open sack in the CUF wasteland, Barreiro.
Photo by Celso Rosa
I returned the stilt structure wood to River Tagus beach, where I had originally found it. This was documented as Sack, Iteration IV.
Photo by Celso Rose
An AI of Sack in the wasteland, the place which which inspired the work.
AI by Ellie Forman-Peck
Work in progress. weaving of found debris from the wasteland. One section of the many hand-stitched patches incorporated into Sack.
Found wood, wire, sisal, juste, twine.
I donated part of my stilt structure to PADA to display. This was the raft section.