The 4th Cheongju International Craft Competition

Opening Date: 2005-Sep-30
Closing Date: 2005-Oct-23
My textile piece 'Hidden Underneath' was created in response to the brief set by the Korean Craft Biennale, which was entitled 'Hide and Reveal.' For many years I have been researching and developing ideas for textiles and garments from my historical costume research. This competition enabled me to develop some of these ideas into a finished piece.
My research at the Bath Museum of Costume included a range of detailed drawings of Victorian boned corsets; I had become fascinated by the paradox of the female form as hidden, restricted and yet seductively revealed by the constraints of this garment.
I used the corset image, which had been developed from my sketchbook to translate into a digital design for the software programme Designer knit. This programme enabled me to actually knit the bodice image into the final piece. The fabric was made from lambs wool, cotton and Lycra, which was then over printed and stitched to conceal text and imagery.