An exhibition dedicated to it is one very good way. The Powerhouse Museum in Sydney recently held a design competition which had the theme of ‘lace’, and this exhibition is the best of the entries. There was no restriction in terms of technique or material, but it had to communicate an idea of what lace could be.
In essence; lace can be freaking anything. Clothes, jewellery, artworks, video installations, chairs, fences, wall hangings, cars, engines, curtains, lamps, little bronze creatures with wacky headwear... absolutely anything. Even the entire female reproductive system, knitted with human hair.
It is so incredible to see how many techniques there are to interpret the idea of lace. There were similar ideas or inspirations circulating; relations to the veins in a leaf, memories of lace doilies or the pattern of urban road networks, but the works were so varied in their craftsmanship it was mind-boggling.
One of the most striking things about lace is its inherent eroticism. It is the way it both conceals and reveals that makes it so incredibly compelling for clothing design. It also unique because it is not just the material that makes lace, it is the empty space between. It is the play between space and non-space, light and shadow, and between positive and negative.
It really made me want to try again at doing lace knitting. The results just would be so rewarding, especially after all that hard work. The Powerhouse Museum also has a lace study centre where they preserve lace from all ages and from all over the world. Here are some of my favourite pieces from the exhibition.
No comments:
Post a Comment