“Endangered- lost there, felt here” is the title of Feltmakers Ireland exhibition in 2020.
Members were be asked to submit pieces of their work in response to this title for independent selection and then exhibition at the Knit & Stitch show in RDS, Dublin in November 2020.
As a virus veteran there was only one entry that I was passionate of doing.
I entered a pair of sculptures of viruses which embody my decade long understanding of what makes them thick and what ourselves as a community have experiences historically as a result of them.
Description of Piece:
Title: Common Cold & Corona Virus
The sculptures are the culmination of a conversation in wool which started for myself a decade ago and somehow to my overwhelming sadness brought the whole world to a standstill in 2020. The dichotomy between function and form in viruses is commonly an immediate reflection on their existence measured to our own. Humans have the weakness to put ourselves in the centre of the universe rather than grasping the idea that more often than not we are the threat to every living organism – including our own kind. A virus veteran myself I study the impact of viruses on a personal and global level. The work has been a mechanism to explore humanity, how we operate in a crisis and how we process the impact of trauma within our relationships and our belief system. The lessons I have learned are of growth, hope and kindness. I strive to share this experience through my practice.
Materials and Techniques:
The Two pieces are constructed by a crust and a core. The crust is a combination of animal and plant-based fibres which communicates the spread of the virus and the impact it has on our bodies. The respiratory spread is embodied in undyed wool to emulate sensory experience. The fearmongering of geographical containment is communicated by silk and Italian fibres. The core is a combination of rubbish created during the pandemic which has been covered in wool to develop felt.
