Concept¶
Autoportrait in a palimpsest shape : the whole story of a wool story.¶
who_ol¶
It is time, to unmask.
BUREL W O O L came to me.
what¶
13th january,
My project consists of creating a work around the concept of palimpsest crossed with a self-portrait that you can find here.
First week of january, I recovered kilos of raw wool, coming from an artist's piece at the biennale of contemporary art in Lyon. they offered it on social media as they dismantled the work in question. I considered using it as the first material for my project by positioning myself at the first level of recycling, reuse, revaluation, etc. of material.
After the first meeting with Diane this afternoon, I can say that my production will take the plastic form of a self-portrait certainly, but symbolic and conceptual. There will be no literal and figurative representation of my body.
The cover will be the key word, the one that will give substance to these textile and artistic experiments. Used in layers, they will be stacked, similar, serial, but all different. To integrate the symbolism of the palimpsest, and of non-new materials, I will seek to retain any rapid degradation of the material, such as what moths can unfortunately inflict on our clothes locked up too long in our closets.
Any other possibility should be studied. I want these covers to symbolize the process I started by participating in the Fabricademy. I started, 20 years ago, my studies in the field of textiles, but the vagaries of life made me continue on the path of graphic design, for which I also had a strong inclination. I lost myself professionally for a few years by not working at all in my field.
Fabricademy is the desire to change, and to return to my first love, which is textiles. So, metaphorically, my life is this palimpsest: not a total restart from a blank page, but a story that I write every day on the remnants of the old ones.
The symbol of the blanket interests me because it protects, we wrap ourselves in it, it warms and comforts. It's your own private space, bedroom. But you can also decide to change it, as we can change our lives, starting over. But the mind and body never really forget everything even if time flies and erodes things.
Paradoxically, the cover hides your inner self, showing what you decide to show at a certain moment. it is a shell, a protection, a skin. We hide and show at the same time.
I would like to be able to make 5 (or more) covers, all different, in different states of erosion.
- Moths
- Sun
- Non-solid dyes
- Degradable materials
But, even though things change, if we look at all the layers together, we see a map, an identity that is unique and defines who we are. Who am I.
Vocabulary talks for itself. It is important for me to show those words in my native language, french to definy at what time I use one word or another.
when¶
Now and for as long as possible.
where¶
Home, because home is where it hurts.
why¶
Create surfaces by weaving, knitting, glueing
A blanket helps you to hide, protect by showing a lot at the same time. It's all about the two faces of it. One is against you to comfort and no one can see it, but you can feel it, the other one is the one others see. Opposite feelings of inside/outside, recto/verso.
References¶
projects, research papers, expos, performances etc¶
- Parangolès
- Magdalena Abakanowicz
http://www.artnet.fr/artistes/magdalena-abakanowicz/helena-a-MWf8U4mV2qIvV9_3QshrbA2
Sketches¶
First layer (bottom) is a handmade édredon, thrifted cotton white sheet (embroidered "ME" initales) and second-hand wool, washed and hand-combed, hand filled.
Image reference¶
My little book from childhood : Cathy and her blanket, which inspired me a lot.
Listen to references¶
https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceculture/podcasts/par-les-temps-qui-courent/claire-richard-ecrivaine-7290708
- Download reference
Moodboard¶
Maike works currently with Lottozero, and she "investigates the notion of covering as a basic human need that gives us shelter but can also shift into a hideng gesture to make something invisible."
Random relevant reels and stories on instagram feeding the fact that cosy things are fashionable at this time :
Seen this incredible documentary about photographer Nan Goldin whom I like a lot, and her personnal story that is presented all along her activism resonnated so much in me.
Citation of Joseph Conrad at the very end of the film :
"Droll thing life is -- that mysterious arrangement of merciless logic for a futile purpose. The most you can hope from it is some knowledge of yourself -- that comes too late -- a crop of inextinguishable regrets." ( Heart of Darkness)