Kettle, A., Green, D., Sherwood, D., Watkins, E., White, I., Theau, J., Grogan, L., Siwerski, M., Waters, S., Raetze, S., Moore, T., von Mengersen, B., 2015.

Slipstitch

Slipstitch considers the growing pursuit of figurative embroidery in contemporary art. Giving reference to embroidery as a traditional tool for autobiographical story telling the exhibition includes a diverse group of emerging and established artists. In recent years contemporary artists in Australia have embraced embroidery for its capacity for poignant and reflective narrative. The re-emergence of embroidery is part of a broader questioning of the hierarchy of materials that has gained momentum since the 1990s. Embroidered objects have often been read literally and relegated within a domestic framework. These new contemporary works break down preconceptions by exploring what embroidery can become once it transcends the regularity of pattern and decoration. Historically, embroidery like the Bayeux Tapestry, was used as a tool for personal or political narratives. Slipstitch aims to introduce a contemporary audience to the capacity of embroidery for drawing and communication in this mode.