Why not metal? wood? glass? ceramic?
With the exception of glass, I've tried my hands with metal work, wood and ceramics. They all required strict precision which was not compatible with my inner core. Due to the strength required to work with such materials, my creative flow often comes to an early halt.
so why cloth? A two part answer.
so why cloth? A two part answer.
I often think back to one of my many favorite novels; "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden. The synopsis is about Sayuri - a fisherman's daughter born in a little town called Yoroido and how she became to be a Kyoto geisha. Sayuri is described as "having too much water in her personality." Too much water that the other four elements were hardly present.
How I can relate to such element. Water. Fluid and pliable. Has the ability to adapt to whatever elements and situations it runs into. No corners can halt its movements. A tendency to go with the flow. It provide a sense of peace and calm but when provoked, can lash out and overbear its crossings. Pre-ordained to have more Water in me than other elements, how I think & create may not be controllable. It simply flows out.
Second part of why cloth.
Cloth is a necessity for all. The moment a baby is released out of a mother`s womb, it is immediately wrapped in cloth. It is a soft physical barrier against the harsh conditions of the weather & environment.
A tactile material that can bear precious memories, tell a story when displayed but can be silent, folded and tucked away from wandering eyes. The simple fact that a single piece of cloth, however decorated, pierced, stripped, adorned, coated or worn can hold a conversation, but does not have to take up any physical permanent space speaks of why I chose cloth over other materials.
I can spend a lifetime working, teasing, manipulating the simple material of cloth in a 10`x 10`space and not have to expand. I can easily fold away cloths and move accessibly as I please.
Water flows wherever it pleases. It never stops and situates itself to a single space.
That`s why cloth.
How I can relate to such element. Water. Fluid and pliable. Has the ability to adapt to whatever elements and situations it runs into. No corners can halt its movements. A tendency to go with the flow. It provide a sense of peace and calm but when provoked, can lash out and overbear its crossings. Pre-ordained to have more Water in me than other elements, how I think & create may not be controllable. It simply flows out.
Second part of why cloth.
Cloth is a necessity for all. The moment a baby is released out of a mother`s womb, it is immediately wrapped in cloth. It is a soft physical barrier against the harsh conditions of the weather & environment.
A tactile material that can bear precious memories, tell a story when displayed but can be silent, folded and tucked away from wandering eyes. The simple fact that a single piece of cloth, however decorated, pierced, stripped, adorned, coated or worn can hold a conversation, but does not have to take up any physical permanent space speaks of why I chose cloth over other materials.
I can spend a lifetime working, teasing, manipulating the simple material of cloth in a 10`x 10`space and not have to expand. I can easily fold away cloths and move accessibly as I please.
Water flows wherever it pleases. It never stops and situates itself to a single space.
That`s why cloth.
