TACTILE
A group textile show curated by Zoe Blow for Nabe Studios
‘TACTILE presented by Nabe Studios is a group show featuring the works of five local artists. The exhibition celebrates textiles as a powerful and expressive medium for story telling, especially within a highly digital world, and challenges the distinctions made between what is considered ‘art’ and what is ‘craft’.’ - Nabe Studios, 2023
Tactile was the first time exhibiting my work and I was lucky enough to have been showcased alongside incredible artists; Sam Manga, Dinithi De Alwis Samarawickrama, Rachel Simkover and Fiona Wilson . I displayed eight pieces including two soft sculptures, four tapestries and three embroidery hoops made with quilted scrap fabrics.
Will You Play With Me? Tapestry made from quilted fabric scraps, zips, found & collected trinkets , 2023
This piece was inspired by my older sister and our deep obsession with hello kitty, miffy etc. - the bond we’ve always shared over our fixation of these characters and how they’ve inspired us. I would often hassle my sister to play with me despite her being busy or focused on other things. Hosting fashion shows for our barbies to reading miffy books together, these characters held a common ground that allowed us to connect through creativity and play.
Mum, he won’t get off the computer! Tapestry made from quilted fabric scraps, found & collected trinkets, 2023
My younger brother Bo was my influence for this piece, making it one of the most personal works in my collection. My memories of growing up heavily involve him on his computer, hyperfixtaed into what ever the new game fad was - from Minecraft to COD, you name it, he mastered it - I say mastered because that most accurately represents how he played/still plays. As a family we never quite understood/weren’t very accepting of his vices, it took us a while to realise it was his form of escape and healing, just like art is mine - this is a tribute to my brother, his gaming and the genuine talent he holds with anything he puts his mind to.
