“>”>The Aesthetic of Imperfection
“>”>Mrs. Lalita Seemontara
Introduction
The inspiration for my artwork comes from the natural and man-made features of places I have visited and photographed. The beauty of both man-made structures and natural geological formations is reflected not only in the perfection of their appearance, but also in the imperfections arising from the passage of time. These imperfections are beauty of a different sort, formed by deterioration and erosion caused by the elements, the changes of seasons and other forces of nature. The inspiration for this artwork came from photos I took during a visit to Niagara Falls (U.S.A.) in April 2018. Nature has created majestic beauty in the mass of water plunging with force and energy over the cliffs in a straight line to the depths below. At the time of my visit, the ice and snow of winter still had not totally melted. The ice-covered soil on the frozen riverbank formed interesting and beautiful colors. The combination of melting ice, snowflakes, and complexity of soils depicted in my photos created a beautiful contrast of colors and dimensions in the foreground and background. The impressions from these photos inspired me to create my artwork.
As a textile design lecturer in fashion design department, I study the work of fabric design and also look to the works of other fashion designers. From these studies, I discovered mixed-media techniques that have been used in haute couture from 2000 to the present day. These techniques can transform flat, two-dimensional fabrics into textured, three-dimensional creations. Using these techniques, designers can create an unlimited range of artwork by blending materials and employing a variety of processes such as printing, painting, weaving, knitting, quilting, patchwork, and embroidery. For this reason, I am interested in experimenting with mixed-media techniques to further my classroom teaching in experimental textile design courses.
In my previous creations, I studied making fabric from wool using felting technique. I found that this technique can create a wide range of artwork in two and three dimensions. It can also create artwork with textures by combining different materials into the fabric, such as felting wool onto other natural fibers. In this artwork I have created, I chose to use chiffon silk. Felting techniques can also be used with certain fibers that acquire adhesive qualities after processing, allowing these fibers to cling to themselves and become fabric without weaving. I experimented and chose to use multicolored marbles with felting techniques in order to create 3-D shapes. Besides felting techniques, I also chose to combine crochet and embroidery to create a wider range of works.
Conclusion
From experimenting with various techniques, I found that by using materials other than fabric to make feltings, the work can be formed into shapes according to the materials that have been used. In the case of this work, I have chosen to use 2.6 centimeters. marbles. Therefore, the prototype that I brought has portions with a three-dimensional round texture. Wool fiber has special characteristics that are different from other fibers. Wool fibers, after being processed, can cling to each other and transform into a piece of fabric without being woven. Besides clinging to each other, wool fibers shrink during the process. Therefore, it requires a size assessment before beginning the process. The size should be 50% larger than the size desired in order to avoid any errors. The process of making the artwork takes longer than usual because it uses material other than fabric. The selected material was synthetic and solid. The fiber itself cannot be inserted through such material. This piece formed its shaped due to the material that was used in the prototype.
Objectives Aims or Purposes
- To create textile art with various materials and dimensions
- To express the beauty of imperfections in nature through textile art.
Process or Methods
- Create sketches and line drawings of Niagara Falls from the photos I have taken.
- Divide the work into two parts: the body of the waterfall and the surface of the water that
was still icy and covered with unmelted snow. Consider what techniques to use to create
the work from the draft. - Start first with the portion showing the surface of the water with ice and unmelted snow. Use crochet techniques with colored yarn of different sizes. The reflection of
sunlight on snow uses clear threads, as well as translucent and reflective materials. The
surface of the water uses felting techniques combined with crochet and embroidery. - The body of the waterfall uses felting and crochet.
- Other details can then be applied.
Techniques and materials
- Felting techniques
- Crochet techniques
- Embroidery techniques
- Wool material, varieties of yarn, silk chiffon, marbles
Size or Mins.
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