Karen Griffiths
My work has grown out of both my background in archaeology and my study of Victorian ragwork traditions. Rag rugs were once made by families unable to afford manufactured floor coverings. They hoarded and then recycled their old clothes. Nothing ever went to waste and much of it would have had a long history of use in the family before ending up in a rug. The textiles used carried important and enduring memories of the families who recycled them. Today the situation is completely reversed with thousands of tons of cheap textiles ending up in landfill sites every year with few stories attached to them.
In my own work I attempt to recapture some of the value and stories once associated with even the smallest fragments of everyday fabrics. Today’s discarded textiles when reworked can take on new meanings and start to tell new stories. Inspired by these reclaimed fabrics, I use traditional and non-traditional techniques to create my work. Having started by making largely domestic items from my textiles I have now moved on to creating more conceptual pieces celebrating the beauty of wear and the mysterious protective powers conveyed by worn clothing and the memories they carry. |
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