Kim Oliver

Inspiration for this collection of textiles stemmed from clothing that has a vintage furnishing fabric look and feel.

Drawings of texture and pattern found in stone, perspex and wood formed the source material for my final textile designs. The weight and patina of old stone, scored tables and graffitied bus shelters provided me with inspiration.

The way that these surfaces record time passing and act as markers for human frailty became a focus. I looked at marks made by pressure, wear and tear and intentional damage. I thought about the beauty of imperfection and tried to avoid predictable pattern. I looked at Basquiat's use of composition, and at Serra's prints to help me think about how to convey weight. I also visited Verdant Works museum and drew an old stone staircase in detail with many different materials. These early drawings really explored the nature of stone and how it wears over time. Much of my subsequent work was process led and each step informed the next. This required me to keep an open mind throughout the long journey of creating these textiles, rather than having a fixed destination in mind. I have produced textiles on linen, silk and drill cotton, intended for utilitarian workwear garments that will age and wear well over time.