Drying to Know: an Exhibition of Information and Instruction Tea Towels
Goode, A
(2013)
Drying to Know: an Exhibition of Information and Instruction Tea Towels.
The Gallery, Bath School of Art and Design, 8 - 22 November 2013.
The exhibition draws the viewers attention to the idea that a practical and necessary item can also be a work of art, a form of advertising, an instructional guide, and, by default, a celebration of all things British.
The tea towel collection is not only an anthropological exploration of British life and culture, it also strongly reflects the technological changes in textile printing methods in the UK.
The changes in design from the 50s through to the 80s as well as the development of digital technologies has meant this everyday object can be more than just a tea towel, it can effectively reflect class and cultural aspirations.