Amy Hamley: A New Place to Be From @ Maybaum Gallery

Inspired by the history of lace, A New Place to Be From reimagines traditional tapestry and porcelain objects into contemporary works of art by using porcelain components in place of the weft in the weavings. While machine-made lace is now commonplace, the labor needed to create it by hand once made lace the highest of status symbols. European nobility would wear a single cuff or collar that had taken an artisan up to two years to make. This body of work shines a spotlight not just on the beauty of lace but also the unhurried, analog nature of craft in an increasingly hurried, technological world. By showcasing the labor and human experience behind them, these pieces invite viewers to consider the history of handwoven fabrics and decorative porcelain objects as valuable, highly-coveted commodities and works of art of centuries past and how this contrasts with what is valued in modern society. The work provides a soft landing for those looking to escape the impossible, uninvited pace of modern life.