West Dean Gardens
The mapping of West Dean gardens with the streams running trough, the lichen covered pillars entwined with creeper, along with the crenelated hedging is an abstract interpretation of West Dean Gardens.
This wall hanging required collecting a series of different textiles which would reflect the texture and colours seen in the autumnal gardens of West Dean. These were woven onto a card loom with thirty three warp treads of wool and paper twine. Some were grouped in threes to add contrast and provide opportunity for smaller weaving at points in the tapestry. For the weft, materials with a reflective quality were chosen to symbolize the water, along with dark moss green for the paths and steps, and mustard yellow and cream for the lichen. Capturing the winding vine as seen around the pillars of the West Dean pergola along with the deep red of the cornus shrubs was made possible with long strands of twisted linen thread which was wound across the suface.
Emotionally it gives off a calm but alive feeling conveying what it feels like to move through it.
West Dean Gardens
The tight control of the woven turret in contrast to the frayed edges and tangled fibres reflect the tension which mirrors the real gardens; designed spaces which still grow unpredictably.
Contrast between order and wildness
The layered structure gives a sense of living environment with many interconnected systems. The dense greens, whites, yellows and earthy browns suggest the tangled lichen and moss which captures the garden at its peak of vitality.
Ecology and growth
Hand dyed blue green silk represents the waterways creating motion and imply the garden is not static but constantly changing and growing.