Painting
Arwen’s artwork on canvas and paper utilises a unique mix of media - dressmaking patterns, graphite, charcoal, metallic foil, and paint. Through this multi-media approach she references land and oceanic forms and uses pattern to explore intersections and parallels between European and Pacific cultures. Sourcing and using second-hand materials and creating poetry are part of her creative process.
"I love how dressmaking patterns speak about identity, who we are on the outside and inside; the tissue paper is fine and transparent, it’s like a kind of skin. Like the barkcloth cloth designs of Oceania, each shape can be filled with imagery. I use each piece as a space to tell part of a story. Barkcloth contains the imprint of the people who have produced it. I believe clothing, doilies, embroidered cloths and other handcrafted items also carry imprints or ‘memory’ of those who have made them. The art of decoration has long been used to adorn our bodies and clothing, to elevate everyday objects, tell stories or record history, and to create a sense of identity and belonging. Pattern and design are a form of communication across culture, time and place."
— Arwen Flowers.
Arwen’s artwork on canvas and paper utilises a unique mix of media - dressmaking patterns, graphite, charcoal, metallic foil, and paint. Through this multi-media approach she references land and oceanic forms and uses pattern to explore intersections and parallels between European and Pacific cultures. Sourcing and using second-hand materials and creating poetry are part of her creative process.
"I love how dressmaking patterns speak about identity, who we are on the outside and inside; the tissue paper is fine and transparent, it’s like a kind of skin. Like the barkcloth cloth designs of Oceania, each shape can be filled with imagery. I use each piece as a space to tell part of a story. Barkcloth contains the imprint of the people who have produced it. I believe clothing, doilies, embroidered cloths and other handcrafted items also carry imprints or ‘memory’ of those who have made them. The art of decoration has long been used to adorn our bodies and clothing, to elevate everyday objects, tell stories or record history, and to create a sense of identity and belonging. Pattern and design are a form of communication across culture, time and place."
— Arwen Flowers.
