Textile Art Student

3rd Place Winner - Ellen Anderton - Nottingham Trent University, UK

Enlarged Obscurity

‘Enlarged Obscurity’ delves into the curious spectacle of the evolving deep blue. Embroidery emulates the forms of our adapting oceanic life reacting to climate change. Digitally embroidered skeletal coral acts as a base with the contrasting vibrancy of living aquatic life beaded on top. Inspiration was drawn from my
experiences of living by the coast and having a desire to communicate and recreate the beauty of our seas through 3D embroidery. I began to research coral bleaching resulting from rising sea temperatures and this became a large drive in my graduate collection and artistic practise.

Further inspiration has been taken from my experiences of people with sight impairments and thus exploring colour, hue contrasts and 3D approaches have been important for the embroidery to feel more tactile. This awareness of colour helped me create transitions of tones throughout the piece in a way that is blocked out and easy to perceive. Overall, a passion of sculpture and the manipulation of small pieces coming together has formed this textile art design.

Inspired by the role climate change takes within coral bleaching, this embroidery emulates the forms of our adapting oceanic life. Digitally embroidered skeletal coral acts as a base with the contrasting vibrancy of living aquatic life beaded on top.

Materials used: Pad loft, Aqua film, Felt, Organza, Natural stuffing fibres, Madeira threads, recycled beads, glass beads and cotton thread.
Digitally embroidered skeletal coral acts as a base with the contrasting vibrancy of living aquatic life beaded on top.
I began to research coral bleaching resulting from rising sea temperatures and this became a large drive in my graduate collection and artistic practise.
‘Enlarged Obscurity’ delves into the curious spectacle of the evolving deep blue.
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