Eva Kerley
Textile Design BA
National College of Art and Design
Graduates: 2023
Specialisms: Textiles - Weave / Textiles - Knit / Textile Innovation/Textile Art
My location: Dublin, Ireland
Eva Kerley
First Name: Eva
Last Name: Kerley
University / College: National College of Art and Design
Course / Program: Textile Design BA
Graduates: 2023
Specialisms: Textiles - Weave / Textiles - Knit / Textile Innovation/Textile Art
My Location: Dublin, Ireland
About
In my practice, I’m interested in the significance of cloth, both emotionally and historically and choose concepts I have an emotional connection to. I like to adapt classic weaving, knitting and natural dying techniques to tell the story of the concept.
My project is called ‘Cuimhneas’ (memory). The Designs are inspired by the book ‘Belonging’ by Catherine Corless and Naomi Linehan. A book detailing the stories of the Tuam Mother & Baby Home victims and survivors. An institution like many others in Ireland, where unwed mothers were incarcerated and their children taken off them against their will. The collection explores nurture and the darkness of the memories of ‘the home babies’ and their Mothers. The fabrics intend to act as an antidote to these horrible memories and heal. Cuimhneas is a collection of blankets, each reflecting the story of individuals mentioned in the book. Blankets are one of the first objects that humans form a bond with. They provide comfort, security and nurture, similar to a mother’s embrace. The ‘Cuimhneas’ collection is intended to be appreciated as blankets and healing objects. The fabrics’ scent, colour and feel have been carefully curated to promote the utmost sense of comfort. The aim is to target the wearer’s inner child and emulate the familiar sense of security. Using carefully selected fibres and natural dyeing makes this collection sustainable, low impact and gentle on the skin. These patterns can be scaled down easily to be made at an industrial level or handwoven as the originals are. All natural dying was done using extracts to ensure exact colour can be recreated effortlessly.
Competitions
