Connected Cloth: exploring the global nature of textiles
‘Connected Cloth: Exploring the global nature of textiles’ a 62 Group exhibition part of the British Textile Biennial
Whitaker Museum & Art Gallery
Haslingden Rd, Rawtenstall, Rossendale BB4 6RE
25 September – 28 November 2021
As part of this exhibition, The 62 Group commissioned a film of the artists talking about their work, it is a great insight into the exhibition Artists Film (the making of Textile worker at 3min 55sec)
Textile worker – China 2021
Emily’s work is made from layers and pieces of silk organza, she prizes the crisp, flat, dull qualities of the material that is woven in China and India. Curious about the people who weave the material that has become synonymous with her work, she approached several of her suppliers to see if they could help her shed any light on the mill workers that produce the cloth.
Thanks go to Nick Moore at Pongees for engaging with this project, providing photographs from the mill they use and helping Emily to try and glean a little more information about the mill workers or even the name of their photographer. He forwarded her this exchange.
Hi Emily, The mill said –
Hi Nick, no photographer, just taken by factory guys. I only told them it's for promotion of your factory. tell your client if she wants to express thanks, best would be to buy more Chinese silk via you, then it's a good return to factory. J
This portrait continues Emily’s project advocating The Value of Making by creating work that celebrates the skill, dexterity and the creative problem solving of people who make things. In this context it is regrettable and intriguing that she remains anonymous. Emily respects her from afar and reflects upon their cultural differences and the silk threads that connect them.
NB. European organza is woven more densely from finer fibres, is more fluid and less suitable for Emily’s particular technique.
