Claiming our universal cultural inheritance — Meticulously created on traditional Chinese painting silk, this exhibition is an homage to the humble and highly skilled artisans and cultural change makers, weaving a tapestry of design through the movement of people.
Driven by a desire for obscene wealth, the exploits of the East India Company exposed Europe to a new type of opulence during the 18th Century. Ships laden with porcelain and silk, decorated with richly patterned scenes of life in exotic countries, embellished with wild, unseen flora and fauna. These objects also carried ancient production techniques, skills and labour, like heirlooms handed down from one generation to the next. Inevitably these influences altered the cultural and economic landscapes of its host county.
From the hand curled golden wire of the cloisonné pot, to the glint of a time wearied gilt peony, the silk foundation holds these objects in reverence.
Photography: Carli Wilson @carliwilsonphotography