Metamorphosis

My new collection of original cyanotype prints is launching on Saturday 20th February 2021. The project started out as a way to keep busy and making work through the winter, using vintage lace to create new images. Like a butterfly that metamorphoses throughout the different stages of it's life cycle the project has changed and grown and the ideas have been flowing. 

metamorphosis

noun
ZOOLOGY

1. (in an insect or amphibian) the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages.
   
   

​a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one.

Each tiny piece of lace has intrigued my imagination, guessing as to its origin and making up stories about who may have used or worn it and how it has been cut up, frayed and changed over time. It started me thinking on a completely different track about butterflies and how their wings become ragged as they grow older and are buffeted by the wind and pecked at by the birds. They remain beautiful despite the damage and the vintage lace retains its beauty too.

The lace has been transformed from it's original purpose into images that capture the beauty of the lace patterns and incorporate some of the frayed and torn edges. Memories of a previous life have disappeared but hints remain like a ghostly presence waiting to be remembered once again. 

The new collection is divided into three different themes:

• Lace Collages - created using small off-cuts of lace, layered and composed on the paper during the cyanotype exposure capturing tiny details of the intricate patterns and evidence of their former life as a cuff of a sleeve or the edging from an old table cover.
• Lace Doilies - vintage doilies made from linen and cotton, some edged with lace, others composed entirely of lace. They are no longer used for their intended purpose but languish in a drawer hidden from view. Capturing their silhouettes and patterns gives them a new meaning and purpose, to hang on the wall to be seen and appreciated everyday. Some of them are in a poor state of repair with loose threads, stains and tears but this is part of their attraction in their new incarnation.
• Butterflies - the life of a butterfly is transient and they appear so delicate and fragile as they fly across our gardens and landscapes but some of them travel for thousands of miles as they migrate across the oceans to breed or overwinter. Here in the UK they are mainly seen in summer but they stay in our memories as something to look forward to when they start to return in the spring. They are often considered to be lucky, especially blue butterflies which are less common here too. Incorporating butterfly silhouettes and blending them with the floral patterns of the lace has created ghostly images of butterflies captured in a floral net and almost three dimensional images of lace patterns on the delicate butterfly wings. 

This project has certainly sparked my imagination and lead to a new found love of vintage lace. I've been adding pieces to my collection and see this as a more long term project with further developments to come in the future. Using the historic cyanotype process I have found myself reverting back to the original Prussian blue and white images of the traditional technique which captures every tiny detail of the delicate patterns in such a clean and precise manner. I hope that you will be inspired by my new collection of work and if you would like to be the first to hear when the work is available to view and purchase please do sign up for my newsletter which will provide early access to my subscribers and a discount code to use on orders over £50. The prize draw to win the print below has been made and the winner is Sharon Milliner. Entries are now closed but you can still sign up to receive my newsletters.

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Butterfly print giveaway