Arts Thread

Above: UCA Farnham Textiles graduates 1. & 2. Mariyam Bajwa/ 3. & 4. Rosie Holttum/5. & 6. Katie Wilkinson/ 7. & 8. Emilia Birkis/9. & 10. Abeer Kayani

Body positivity, climate change and studio 54 served as inspiration for some of the stand-out projects on show at the BA Textile Design 2019 degree show at the University for the Creative Arts Farnham.

Textile Print designer and maker, Mariyam Bajwa specialises in hand dyeing and silk screen printing. Her prints reflect her drive to create vibrant and contemporary surface designs. Inspiration for her Urban Abstraction  collection comes from her surroundings, urban environments and nature.

Rosie Holttum focused specifically on the impact of climate change. Creating large-scale, hand-made textile art pieces to represent the size of climate change and its colossal damage it has on the planet. Holttum based her work around The Walton-On-The-Naze coastline, which is known for eroding at a fast rate, due to climate change and rising sea levels. Colour plays an important role within Rosie’s work, creating contrast by crafting colour palettes that often juxtapose the daunting meaning behind my textile art pieces.

“I am hugely inspired by Geography and have become more determined to portray the affects of climate change throughout my work,” says Holttum. “The main idea behind my practice is to create more awareness of the reality of climate change, in a more visual way, to inform people to act upon it now, before it is too late.”

The inspiration for Disco Decade by Katie Wilkinson came from the glitz and glam of the outfits seen on the dancefloors throughout the 70s. Using Studio 54 as a reference point, Wilkinson was drawn to stories of raunchiness, naughtiness and the downright outrageousness. Wilkinson used the visual imagery that she amassed to create a collection of fabrics which could be translated in to garments that would channel the energy of the era.

The Skin We Live In by Emilia Birkis revolves around body positivity and embracing what we consider flaws. It is engrossed in the idea of us trying to conceal and cover these flaws with artificial products, which would otherwise make us individual and unique. The idea for the project stemmed from the everyday worries of having to conform to beauty norms and unusual methods were used to dye yarns and fabrics, including using fake tan and hair dyes, inspired by the need to alter and hide our imperfections.

Birkis says of her work: “I want people to touch and engage with my work and for them to relate on a personal level of feeling comfortable to accept these imperfections.”

Abeer Kayani’s Aquatic Opulence Series is inspired by harmonious, repetitive patterns, developed using CAD and hand-screen print. “I love using a range of silk, each outcome is unique and bespoke. I enjoy a range of dye and print techniques that allow me to work in a highly experimental and creative way,” says Kayani. “Light is an element I involve within my practice. I am always intrigued by qualities of transparency, texture and movement which create an atmosphere. The link between surface and space. I love to experiment and exploit all creative possibilities. I aspire to share my work with the world and spread the inspiration and joy it brings me.”

Learn more about UCA Farnham Textiles from BA Textile Design at the University for the Creative Arts Farnham