UNDERNEATH IT ALL

An exploration of anxious times and hiding under the proverbial rug.

UNDERNEATH IT ALL.

Throughout (UK) lockdown, I began making hand embroidered doll’s house rugs inspired by daily play with my then 3 year old daughter. These rugs, adorned with designs that are influenced by objects around the home and by the state of play of the world, are attached to found photographs that have been enlarged to 40cm x 30cm.

The use of old photographs and doll’s house rugs - a familiar childhood toy - transports the viewer to a time passed; a nostalgic memory of a seemingly simpler, more carefree space and time. Something that only the rose-tint of memories affords us. It also leans into memories of my own childhood with days on end spent at home during school holidays and memories of women in my family sewing, embroidering and making.

The subjects in these photos exist in a world of domesticity and the everyday humdrum. Their faces are hidden (or perhaps they’re hiding?), waiting for some sort of new and improved ‘normal’ to transpire.

UNDERNEATH IT ALL refers not only to the identities behind these miniature rugs - who are they and what do they look like? - it also nods to the anxiety bubbling away under the surface of everyday life during a pandemic. Everyone has a different experience with different struggles during this time but many of the underlying fears and concerns we are all feeling are shared.

At the time of beginning UNDERNEATH IT ALL, it was (UK) spring/summer 2020 and I paused the series with the ease of lockdown and the ability to experience a little more ‘normality’. After having experienced our third lockdown I am now looking to create a new body of work inspired by the UNDERNEATH IT ALL series. Here I will be incorporating different techniques and mediums, such as screen printing and working with textiles and vintage treasures.

Image details: each piece is an original, one-off archival print (originally from found photo) with hand made doll’s house rug. Unframed size: 40cm x 30cm. Available for purchase.

Click on an image to purchase.