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The Shape of Things
9 September - 6 November 2010
Flow is taking part in the shape of things (TSOT), an exciting national
project that seeks to explore the unique contribution artists make to
influence or reflect national identity and the intercultural nature of
British society.
"These are some of the most intelligent and articulate explanations of
diversity in art that I have ever heard …… This initiative, this
collection of people is important now …… This is a movement, this is
the beginning". Bonnie Greer, author/playright.
The exhibition at flow brings together work by nine artists in one
place. The artists are exhibiting in galleries and museums around the
UK in a national programme, funded by Arts Council England.
Seiko Kinoshita will incorporate traditional Japanese textile
techniques to produce a contemporary textile installation within the
gallery space. Currently working from Sheffield, she has found the
cultural differences within the UK life interesting and stimulating.
Seiko's work made for TSOT explores her interest in the British
obsession with the weather.
Alinah Azadeh's background is in painting, interactive media and
video, incorporating textile practices into her installation work.
Drawing on her Iranian background, she uses ancient rituals such as
communal gift-giving to engage audiences in intimate processes of
self-reflection and interaction.
Halima Cassell born in Pakistan, was brought up in Manchester and
now lives in Blackburn. Halima explores new forms and materials.and
her varied multi-cultural background is tangibly present in her carved
ceramic work. This is derived from a combination of North African
and Islamic stylistic influences that she believes appeals to diverse
audiences through a universal language of pattern, number and
geometry. Cassell's work is also represented in the permanent
collection at the Victoria and Albert museum, London.
Rosa Nguyen, a Londoner believes her Vietnamese French
background contributes to her perception and experience of working within British ceramic practice. She takes inspiration from arts forms such as Ikebana, the Japanese form of flower arranging and
gardening to explore the energy form of Chi and the unification of
spiritual practice.
Tanvi Kant is influenced subconsciously by her Indian Gujarati
cultural heritage. The tradition of weaving fine gold wire fabrics and
embroidery, costume and ethnographic textiles will be explored in
her jewellery. Her work references the sari and challenges styles of
traditionally worn gold jewellery. Her choice of materials refers to
recycling and sustainability but they also give reference to more
personal and collective histories, subverting traditional notions of
material value and beauty.
Taslim Martin who is of Nigerian and Caribbean descent will be
showing a new body of work. He has called it "Disparate Nature" as
it brings together art, craft and design by playing with materials and
process. He pushes ideas and explores the sculptural potential of
functional objects in this exhibition.
Taiwan born Chien-Wei Chang is conscious of how his cultural
heritage is perceived through his work with the current British
interest and awareness of China in politics, economics and culture.
He will explore the context of this effect in his work. "When I started
the (shape of things) application I began thinking- am I being used
or am I using it? But I think to be a true artist you have to be true to
yourself, to show who you really are."
Maggie Scott is a London born textiles artist of African-Caribbean
heritage who has more than 25 years experience as a designer. Her
most recent work with felted and stitched photographic images has
a strong autobiographical narrative. She has often used her
personal experiences of growing up in London during the 1950's in
order to explore national identity and what it means to be British.
Rezia Wahid uses the phase" Baf-thana" meaning "woven air" to
describe her textiles. Wahid's work explores light and air, the British
countryside, the Jamdhani craft of Bangladesh and her travels which
have expanded her spiritual awareness. Wahid's textiles express
lightness in cloth: light to be seen through it and within it. Wahid
believes her work blurs the boundaries of art and craft, the
traditional and the modern. "The textiles I weave are more than
mere pieces of cloth; for me they represent the sanctity, beauty and
serenity of Islam along with nature and are the revival of cultural
form and technique".
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