Murmuration

Experimental, Research, Sustainable, Well-being

Properties & Qualities

Application

Architecture, Art, Sculpture

Qualities

3D, Rigid, Transparent

Colour

Metallic

Sample Information

Date of creation

11/30/2021

Dimensions

Detail of 5 metre long piece.

Weight

Approximately 1 kilo per metre squared.

Culture & Context

I have been obsessed with the spectacle of starling murmurations; the birds collective ‘dance’ instils an inward feeling of something higher, a visual feast and emotional glimpse into an amazing mystery of nature. While watching these mesmerising performances there is a sense of suspended reality, with an increasing realisation of the ephemerality and impermanence of the encounter. In response I began to experiment with how to capture the essence of these rich, yet fleeting experiences through woven artworks. The ideas were incubating for around two years, the first samples and small prototype being made in the following six months. During this time I regularly referred to the photos I had collected and watched videos of murmurations, allowing myself to ‘soak in’ their essence.

Process & Production

I work on my beautiful old George Wood Dobby loom. The fabrics embrace a high level of craftsmanship, engaging in a rigorous commitment to understanding the material and technical aspects of the work, while continuing to challenge the conventional limits of the discipline. Each new combination of woven structures and materials requires time to perfect.

Recipe Details

There is no recipe as such. Just to highlight that working on a cloth structure which uses two warp yarns of very different materials, monofilament and enamelled copper in this example, demands much care at the design stage. Two warp beams are essential, one for the monofilament, one for the enamelled copper, to allow for the differential in tensions and take ups of the yarns. The combination of weave structures used is again vital to allow the yarns to ‘lay’ smoothly next to one another.