3rd Place Winner

Francesca’s concept is titled ‘Tree of Life’ and is inspired by the peculiarities of Hieronymus Bosch’s “Garden of Earthly Delights” [1515]. Exploring the mystery of the ‘unseen realm’ and biblical story of creation. The piece, ‘Angelic Scapular’ is made of embroidered 3D wired petals representing fantastical armour for the cherubim guarding the Tree of Life.

Feathers are encrusted in crystals grown on silk, inspired by strange botanical florals and Fibonacci’s pattern in the Garden of Eden then organically mutating into darkness. Each petal is wired, covered in hand dyed and pleated silk habotai, backed with satin backing and then hand embroidered. Francesca worked with 100% silk and organic embellishment, with the idea that everything is biodegradable and can return to the Garden it was forged in.

Francesca spent a year in industry, partly working for Miss Sohee on 3D sculptural couture pieces. This influence of couture design has influenced her outcome. With the final piece being tailored for a performance setting: a body accessory lending itself to the fantasticalness of the concept. In response to the Mystic Arts, the piece is a romantic reaction to the age of the digital, promoting a return to the natural and the spiritual.