Thursday, November 6, 2008

els van baarle - inner riches


“my inspiration is based on antiquity and ancient times. remains of structures ravaged by wind and weather offer arresting observations. on the surface we discern subtle colors and textures. this correlates to my technique of layering waxes and dyes.
just like an old wall reveals a treasure of details when observed up close, so do my fabrics. what at a first glance appears to be one color becomes a layer of nuances when studied in detail. written characters that are a remnant of the past live on through images and runes. my latest designs are inspired by the remainders of the cultures of people of ancient times.”

as an ancient garden wall ravaged by wind and rain, shattered by frost reveals colours and details of its inner self . . .
as ancient coptic cloth, displays rich depths of colour still warm and true despite its threadbare timeworn appearance . . . .
a pole’s peeled paint exposes a wealth of shades of old and fresh rust . . .

so els van baarle reveals, strips away, exposes the inner riches of the cloths she creates. that this is achieved through layering waxes and dyes and that in fact it is a layering process rather than a process of removal is one of the more remarkable features of els’ work. to learn about her technique and approach you should read this.

hailing from the netherlands, van baarle has shown her work all over the world and has won many prizes. feast your eyes on this incredible work . . .



if you would like to buy a sampling of els' work then look no further than contemporary cloth who will sell you a lovely package of material and yarn. if you would like to learn more about els and her work then drop by her homepage.

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