An exploration of graphic forms, colour and symmetry through illustrated textiles and wearable art.
Design Dialogue continues as an exploration of the relationship between African and Japanese visual cultures. This second series shifts the focus towards the interplay of graphic elements, the human silhouette and the possibilities of translating illustration into wearable forms.
A Language of Shapes
At the heart of these explorations is a fascination with symmetry, repetition and abstraction.
Bold geometric shapes, intricate radial patterns and contrasting fields of colour come together to create compositions that move between ornament and symbolism.
Some designs are dense and expressive. Others embrace simplicity, allowing individual shapes and colours to breathe.
Totemic Expressions
Drawing inspiration from African sculptural traditions and Japanese principles of balance and composition, this series brings together abstract figures, geometric structures and intricate patterns to create a collection of illustrated kimonos.
Forms of Presence
At the centre of each composition lies a totemic figure. Built through layers of shapes, rhythmic patterns and bold colour contrasts, these forms suggest human silhouettes, ceremonial objects and sculptural structures without directly representing any one of them.
Symmetry gives the figures a sense of stillness and monumentality, while the interplay of organic and geometric elements introduces movement and visual tension.
Across the series, symmetry acts as a recurring foundation.
Organic shapes meet structured geometries. Vibrant reds and oranges contrast with deep blues and softer neutral tones. Large graphic elements sit alongside smaller, intricate details.
These contrasts create a visual rhythm that feels both deliberate and experimental.
