Mary Moorkens, textile artist living in Dublin.
I love the rhythm of making marks with thread and the texture of embroidery - the provenance of antique lace - the untold story in a vintage glove, and want to add my stories through stitch.
Textiles reinvented are a constant source of satisfaction for me and vintage fabric and natural dyeing feature strongly as backgrounds in my art. My work is sometimes traditional - sometimes experimental. The stitches are often tiny.
My art has been in exhibitions throughout Ireland, as well as in Europe and the USA. I get extra joy when my stitch work is accepted in mainstream exhibitions alongside other art forms, a reminder that textile work holds its own within the wider art world.
I graduated from NCAD Dublin and for many years worked as a graphic designer. It is not difficult to see the graphic link in my textile art, and I love the overlap. I'm drawn to the delicate beauty of antique lace, which often finds its way into my floral embroideries. I also collect antique and vintage photography, intrigued by the people in them and the untold stories behind the faces.
'The Weight of Wishes'.
I bought an original school photo taken in Nantes France in1940.
Realising that this was the year that France was invaded I could see the uncertainty in the eyes of the all the girls. They must have had many wishes as well as fears, and wishes can be a draining burden to carry.
Choosing four of the schoolgirls, I scanned and isolated them in dark background on the computer and printed onto cotton as an embroidery base. I gave them stitched dandelion wish hats and their bodies are anchored by the dandelion roots.
All slow stitched by hand with single embroidery threads and a very tiny needle. . . . it took a long time!
'Blending In, Conformity or Comfort'.
It all started with an antique studio portrait of a little girl, her name was Helen.
I wondered what she did in her life and what became of her, she looked so confident and brave as she posed.
People may choose to stand out, but there are just as many complex motivations to blend in with our world. I am intrigued by the question, conformity or comfort. I used little Helen, printed onto cotton, to wonder at the choice as she sits between a stitched fox cub and a young fawn. By giving her bunny ears, it can be interpreted as her blending in, or maybe being very unusual . . . or both.
Again hand stitching is my chosen technique, slow and thoughtful and adaptable to my often changing vision as I embroider. Eventually by the stitching, unpicking and restitching, the story is told.