Mitchison, L., 2016.

Painting into Textile

Lesley Mitchison; Programme Leader TIP F/T

Department: Design

Project title: Painting into Textiles

o The Michael Kidner Foundation was established in memory of this international painter by the Flowers Gallery, London and the Kidner family; the Kidner Foundation were keen to explore the translation of painting into textiles, hence the connection that was established between textiles staff at MMU and the work of Michael Kidner. An externally funded project that included research active staff and graduating student's work; The Tate archives, Tate Britain were an integral part of the research process, culminating in an exhibition at the Flowers Gallery in July 2016, one of the premier independent fine art galleries in London who also produced an accompanying Isbn catalogue.
o Michael Kidner's interests in mathematics, science and the theories of chaos have informed an art that is rational and playful. It is the interpretation of these mathematical systems into new woven structures that has provided the platform for the production of new work. The originality of this work stems from the hand weaving systems employed in the production of the artefacts for the exhibition; these complex and new systems were developed through weave notation and are non digital in their application. Hand woven, the process emulates the craft process of weaving and echoes traditional models of painting.
o The outcome is not a mimesis of the original and by comparison research into artist-designed textiles (particular to weave) of eminent artists such as Henry Moore and Grayson Perry reveal the direct translations that have taken place when exploring the relationship between painting and textiles.
o Scholarship has been applied through the interrogation of my own practice and the adoption of a new approach to material knowledge, colour, structure and pattern in the development of complex pattern formations in hand weaving.
o Challenging the boundaries between textiles and painting through the exhibiting of textile based work at the Flowers Gallery highlights the cross disciplinary nature of this project and the impact it has had on a Fine Art venue. The breadth of interpretation and the dissemination of this work is a good pedagogical model of working as it highlights the parallel research and the transfer of knowledge undertaken between the artist and the student.