Craftwork / Woolworks
An exhibition of contemporary textile works designed and hand made by Craftwork at Exposure Gallery.
Wool Works is comprised of two large-scale hanging textile works crafted from natural wool and aluminum. Through making these works, Craftwork has focused on building bridges between the disciplines of art, craft, design and fashion.
Using aluminum and natural wool top slivers, each screen is a collection of long hanks of wool, hand-made and twisted into rope. These rope strands are bound together by combining knotting and are also held in place with powder coated / mirrored aluminum tubes. Craftwork signature Pompoms punctuate and locate the macramé knots woven throughout. In these beautiful works, there is a strong visual interplay between graphics, materials and textures whilst fusing large-scale textile design with jewelry.
Craftwork was founded in 2007 by fashion designer, Caroline Smithson, and architectural designer, Mehrnoosh Khadivi. The pair met in 2004 but it wasn’t until late 2007 that the weekly you-teach-me-crochet-I’ll-teach-you-knitting craft evenings were born.
Here, they could practice a type of work where useful and decorative items are made by hand using only simple tools. Whilst exploring the possibilities of re-applying these traditional craft techniques, it became apparent that this home handicrafts and back-to-basics ethos could be applied to items that may be functional or strictly decorative, including architecture, interiors and reclamation. The use of hands and lack of machines impart an individuality to each item they make which is lacking in manufactured goods.
Thus, Craftwork began in earnest, pompom-ing and patchworking its way through London. The duo draw on their professional training, interests in practicing established techniques and their upbringings in Berwick Upon Tweed, a town known for its witches and Iran’s mystical Persian culture for their inspiration.
To date they have produced handmade macramé shoes, a leather upholstered macramé stools, wall hangings, pompom swings & soft toys.
Garrod Kirkwood
Garrod Kirkwood’s photography has a distinctive style with a gritty feeling that produces impact, drama and depth. Ranging from still life to landscape, or his favoured portraiture, he is at ease with the famous and the obscure, the daunting and the life-affirming and the eccentric and the conventional.
Volt
Volt magazine, in pitch perfect association with Exposure, will host a party to celebrate the continuing rise of the cult fashion & style magazine. The exhibition features works from several of Volt’s most illustrious photographic contributors, illustrating their constant pursuit for creative integrity and inspirational work.
Gerrard Gething
Gerrard Gethings’s work is inspired by his fascination with the environment. Once in his studio, he lets the process and potential of the materials determine the direction of each piece. His work is method based, allowing each painting to exude its own natural impulse to exist.
Ed Robinson / Music Explosion
For the first time, Ed Robinson exhibits a collection of some of his most exciting music photography featuring iconic images from the much-coveted Led Zeppelin reunion in 2007. A unique exhibition of an eclectic range of images showcasing Ed’s experience and fresh perspective on the world and its people.
Amy Dover
Amy Dover ‘s images are almost from another world, studying the darker side of nature in meticulous detail. Inspired by music, poetry and folklore, she tackles subjects including life, death and deceit. Believing our soul transforms into a bird when it exits the body, Amy leaves the viewer with poignant thoughts about afterlife.