‘Searching for Apricity’: A New Show

Duo Show 17th November 2022 - 17th January 2023

Coming to Flow, ‘Searching for Apricity’ presents a dialogue between two artists: ceramicist Nancy Fuller and textile artist Maria Sigma. “Apricity”, a word now fallen out of use, means “the warmth of the winter sun”. This fleeting connection with the elements is embodied by the work of both artists, who share an interest in seasonality and a connection to the earth.

Sigma’s new work celebrates undyed fibres, exploring the textures of varied natural fibres: including British wool, natural raffia, undyed Eri and Tassar wild organic silk, undyed orange Eri Pease silk, natural Greek cotton, undyed sisal and undyed jute. When combined, these fibres create a sensorial landscape within the piece.

The show will feature new wall pieces and table runners that abstract Sigma’s favourite weaving pattern – the Ariadne diamond, which itself is inspired by traditional Greek crochet laces. By deconstructing the pattern and reinterpreting it on a larger scale, a more geometrical weaving structure is revealed.

For Fuller, a connection to the earth is distinctly elemental. Based in rural Aberdeenshire, her practice transplants the craft knowledge and techniques originating from ancient agricultural communities in Asia. She explains how:

For me, wood-firing is a form of affirmation - you act and the fire responds, acknowledging your existence in the world. The attention required for a firing sharpens your senses and you become increasingly aware of subtle changes in your surroundings, bringing you closer to your natural state of being. Formed from earth and born from fire, my work inherently talks of a specific landscape, a time of year and myself, the maker.

Nancy Fuller

Both artists’ are inspired by the need for contemplation in daily life, incorporating a slow-making approach that encourages a connection to one’s own body and the moment. This is translated into the materiality of their artworks:

There is a deep intimacy between the vessels and the maker, with each one being created through thousands of small hand movements. Partaking in this process which has been used for centuries imbues the work with a timeless quality. Through instilling them with a sense of softness and quietude, I wish to create these as holding spaces for contemplation and a way of reconnecting to ourselves and in turn the earth. 

Nancy Fuller

Sigma celebrates the ethic of slow-craft, and how this is embodied in the finished textiles. She reflects on how the connection between body and textile is not only present in the action of making, but indeed in daily life. This omnipresence of fabrics in the day-to-day imbues them with deep significance.

Fabrics reside in the everyday and inhabit almost every corner of a household; they create a boundary between us and nature, the culture of the body and the external world. They contribute in creating a sense of something familiar and beloved.

Maria Sigma