Kathy MOONEY
Shortlisted 2009

work shown : Reflective fabric
Silk and cotton yarns
(click on picture to see larger image)

Project

I am developing a weave aesthetic rooted in traditional techniques which also incorporates new technologies which enhance the surface of the cloth. By doing this I am trying to help regenerate the craft of weaving in Ireland and change the current perception of it as an exhausted craft. Funding for a computerised loom and the complex range of raw materials I use in my research, and to support my travels to liaise with other crafts people and explore new techniques with them, would give immeasurable help in the development of my work.

Artistic Vision

Through the introduction of new yarns and finishing techniques, weave has the possibility of becoming a three-dimensional form. I see it not unlike painting, the layering of threads, interaction of colour, and interplay of different types of yarns reacting to one another, for example, silk crepe and steel. It has the ability to stand alone as a work of art or, alternatively, to serve a functional purpose embodying a unique aesthetic.

I want to address the perception of weave as a two-dimensional flat fabric with a purely utilitarian function. Weave is versatile and flexible. Because of the introduction of new raw materials, fabric can change shape and form. For example the resulting fabric from weaving washable paper yarns is one which is light and transparent. High 'twist' crepe yarns when combined with low 'twist' yarns when washed, results in ripples and folds. Heat reactive yarns when pressed can resemble glass.

Through my research in developing the craft, I can see a future in Irish weave which takes a different form to that of the old weave industry. It is a complex, beautiful craft, which represents cultures and change. By continually expanding my knowledge and skills I wish to narrate this through the medium of weave.