check control
2013
3230mm x 2430mm
I drew up a grid that gave me a more than 50 different sized shapes to work with, to create a balance between harmony and confusion, using the different colours and patterns.
The blocks were cut out of 32mm MDF, providing the solidity and depth that I wanted for each individual element.
This piece began life on a trip to Cambodia. These Krama (head scarfs) are very versatile and used for everything from protection from the sun, to carrying infants and even climbing trees.
It was the way the scarves were layered upon one another and how the different colours and patterns interacted that inspired me to make this work.
Mounting each scarf onto the wooden blocks and achieving a crisp delineation wasn’t an easy task and ended up requiring literally thousands of staples and dozens of metres of foam mounting tape.
There was a long period of experimentation, changing the formation to achieve a sense of chaotic uniformity.
I then screwed the blocks onto three 12mm MDF boards and devised a system of wall-mounted rails to suspend them and allow the sections to slide together and present a seamless whole.
Of all my pieces, this is the one that I am most divided about. It represents a battle between control and letting go.
When seen as a whole it can be confusing, confronting and almost overwhelming. Until you zone in on different areas and appreciate the way the colour, proportion and pattern of the individual elements react with each other.
It plays a game with the eyes, shifting between fuzz, focus and movement.
process & gallery
