HUMAN TOUCH exhibition at Sotheby's in London

The HUMAN TOUCH exhibition at Sotheby's held in early March showcased the incredible connection between designers and makers.

Framed wall hanging above: Art Makes People Powerful, 2019, is designed by Bob and Roberta Smith

Dimensions: 138 by 138cm

The piece of canvaswork (also known as needlepoint) was stitched in one prison by a single stitcher who used crewel wool to stitch in basketweave tent stite, a diagonal stitch which is used for its strength, evenness and structure.

HUMAN TOUCH was a ground-breaking collaboration between eight international contemporary artists and Fine Cell Work a charity that trains and works with prisoners in Britain, transferring their cells into embroidery workshops.

This unique project joining celebrated artists with stitchers in prison cells resulted in eight unique works of art for the exhibition at Sotheby's 26th February to 3rd March 2020 and sold by Fine Cell  Work.

The contemporary artists involved in this project were Ai Weiwei, Idris Khan, Carolina Mazzolari, Annie Morris, Cornelia Parker, Bob and Roberta Smith, Wolfgang Tillmans and Francis Upritchard.

Francis Upritchard's The Artists, Paravent with upholstered silk panels (176 x 149 cm)

The colour images were screen-printed onto handwoven silk and then hand-embroidered using stranded cotton in a wide selection of shades.  The stitches were imspired by the Bayeux Tapestry (technically an embroidery, not a tapestry) and include laid work, stem stitch, satin stich, couching, back stitch, raised chain band, detached chain stitch, French knots, buttonhole bars and double knot stitch.  The embroidered silk was professionally upholstered into the paravent, which was designed and constructed by Martino Gamper.

British designer Cath Kidston, Chair of Human Touch and Trustee of Fine Cell Work said in the programme introduction that the pieces were started from discussions with each artist with the understanding of the restrictions of stitching in prison.  The artists selected their base cloths and small sections were sent into some of the cell groups in prison to be sampled based on their specifications.  The artists then made recommendations or changes before each work was put into full production in prisons across the country.  As the work returned from prison, the emotional connection between the artists and the stitchers became obvious and can be seen through the craftsmanship.  

Ai Weiwei's piece was a quilt called Odyssey.

The monochrome piece consists of 28 embroidered panels, plus plan panels joined together in a variation of a Log cabin style quilt.  The topic is powerful, as it is about refugees, about Human Flow, according to the artist.  The embroidered panels were digitally printed and then stitched in stranded cotton using a variety of different stitches (stem, chain, open chain, detached chain, back and whipped back stitch plus French knots).

Ai Weiwei was so impressed with the results that he wrote personally to each of the 13 stitchers who worked on his piece to thank them for their contribution.

Idris Khan was so impressed with the stitcher's work that he chose to embroider his signature rather than marking with pen.

His design is called Numbers - a hand-sewn photograph presented as a framed wall-hanging of 180 x 180 cm.  The design was digitally printed on heavy linen with embroidered embellishments.

A single stitcher used a combination of darning stitch, Kantha stitch, seeding and irregular running stitch.

He also used black stranded and perle cotton in different weights to convey the subtle variations in shade and line.

All proceeds from the sale of the work were to go directly to the Fine Cell  Work, enabling the charity to provide more creative, paid needlework to the stitchers and enable them to build independent crime-free lives.

Sotheby's is located 34-35 New Bond Street, London W1S 2RT, UK

Photos by Lucia Carpio.

British artist among 10 to participate in international exhibition at Istanbul Museum of Modern Art in February 2020 as part of residency programme

Rana Begum, “Baskets” (2017), at Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge, UK

London-based artist Rana Begum is one of ten artists from around the world invited to participate in a new residency programme at the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, and their work will culminate in an exhibition in February 2020, with the support of the Istanbul Development Agency (ISTRA).

Rana Begum was inspired by the architecture of Istanbul, in particular the domed roofs that are such a prominent feature of the skyline. During her research trip, she visited workshops and learned about different metal spinning techniques. Renowned for her impressive and varied sculptures, Begum will use the practices she observed in Istanbul to create 60 different molds to make a large-scale wall piece for display in the final exhibition.

Born in 1977 in Bangladesh, then moved to the UK with her family, Rana Begum received a BA in painting from the Chelsea College of Arts, followed by an MFA in the same field from the Slade School of Fine Art. She currently lives and works in London. Using various modes of expression such as painting and sculpture, the artist draws inspiration from urban architecture and Islamic arts. She won the Abraaj Prize at Art Dubai 2017 and has had solo exhibitions and participated in group exhibitions in diverse countries, including the UK, the United States, France, Sweden, and China. Her works have appeared in exhibitions at Tate St Ives, UK (2018); Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, the Hague, the Netherlands (2017); Parasol Unit, London (2016); and MAK – Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna (2015).  One of her recent creations "Baskets" was shown at Kettle's Yard, Cambridge, UK, in 2017 as shown in picture above.

Each resident artist invited by the Istanbul Museum spends a total of six weeks in Istanbul over two separate visits, with the first part devoted to first-hand research and the next to the making process. During their first visit, the artists tour the workshops of different artisans, learning about traditional designs, material choices, and production methods. On their second trip to Turkey’s cultural capital, they apply this understanding of local crafts to their own artwork, creating a new piece that will be unveiled in the group exhibition.

Outi Pieski, “Čohkiideapmi / Falling Shawls” (2017), photo by Ari Karttunen / EMMA, and “Ovdavázzit – Forewalkers”, sitespecific sculptural installation for the Finnish Pavilion at the 58th Venice Biennale (2019), photo by Ugo Carmeni

Istanbul Modern is producing a series of short films recording the artists’ individual journeys, and will also compile and present an archival section as part of the exhibition. The museum will hold talks with the artists and organise educational workshops in conjunction with the show.

In addition to Rana Begum of London, the other participating artists are: Faig Ahmed (Baku), Benji Boyadgian (Jerusalem), Rodrigo Hernández (Lisbon and Mexico City), Servet Koçyiğit (Amsterdam), Outi Pieski (Utsjoki and Numminen), Randi & Katrine (Copenhagen), Wael Shawky (Alexandria and Philadelphia), and Jorinde Voigt (Berlin).