Fabric of Society

Two large double-sided hand-stitched fabric banners protest attitudes on contentious social issues and are accompanied by smaller works.

My first large banner, “Not Consent” (1800 x 1580 mm), protests legal responses to criminal charges of sexual assault and rape that also reflect current attitudes of some within society. This work was conceived upon hearing that in late 2018 an Irish court found the defendant not guilty of rape as the victim had been wearing lace undies which was considered to be signalling consent.

Responding to this “signalling consent” attitude I use semaphore, an analogue signalling system for sending messages by holding flags in positions to spell out alphabet letters. A female symbol holds flags onto which feminine lace undies have been stitched, with each square of the banner depicting a letter. Squares are stitched together with one side of the banner spelling “Not Consent” and the other side spelling “No Means No”.

These colourful lacy squares initially seem very pretty and feminine until their underlying message is realised. Additional smaller single-sided banners spell “No Shame” and “Not A Slut”.

My second large banner “Street Life” (2000 x 15000 mm) protests the vilification of homeless persons, an approach perpetuated by politicians unwilling to provide adequate public housing. Extensive research reveals multiple reasons for homelessness, including environmental factors, lack of adequate superannuation, dysfunctional family issues and other traumas.

A colourful deteriorated blanket has been mended, onto which over 50 lace silhouettes have been stitched on one side. Each silhouette has a brief description of the cause of their homelessness, such as “homemaker, divorcee, little super”, “toxic institutional care”, “continually having a go, no luck” and “left country, no water”. Again, a colourful banner communicates an underlying serious message.

The second side has the words “Street Life” stitched onto white translucent fabric with larger silhouettes falling downwards.

Smaller single-sided fabric works have been created, each with a single silhouette and reason for homelessness.