Perhaps it is because of my undergraduate studies in fibre art and design that when I see these ethereal, light fibre pieces it is like a breath of fresh air.
When I do the shadow research, I discover the artist Kay Sekimachi. Kay Sekimachi was born in San Francisco on September 30, 1926. She started experimenting with nylon monofilament hangings and weaving off loom by 1963. Her complex three-dimensional nylon hangings were featured in several of the major exhibitions of the fibre arts movement, including Wall Hangings at the Museum of Modern Art (1969), Deliberate Entanglements at UCLA (1971) and the Biennale internationale de la tapisserie, Lausanne Switzerland in 1975 and 1983.
She wove these installations with black nylon thread. Much like three-dimensional black-and-white paintings. There are parts of the nylon threads that look light with little overlap and thick with more overlap. This is like an X-Ray showing the thickness and density of the work very clearly. I think I could have the same effect with my woven metal shadows. The density of the piece is projected onto the wall by the difference in the number of wire stacks, like X-Ray. Linking my concept, as if reality is something that deceives our eyes, the shadow will tell you the truth.
“I remember my teacher, Trude Guermon-prez saying, “try to make something with the simplest of means." I find trying to create something with limited means very challenging.”
I really like this quote, It's also a constant reminder that sometimes too much ambition can lead to a failure to keep one down to earth. Getting something right and doing it more deeply is not an easy task. Don't ignore the beauty of this single technique either
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