AA2A at Camberwell College of Arts. 8-23 July.

Joyce Addai-Davies
Joyce Addai-Davies

Joyce Addai-Davies

Clara Vuletich


Clara Vuletich

Clara Vuletich

Clara Vuletich

My recent South London adventures took me to the AA2A 2010 exhibition at Camberwell College of Art, where two friends of mine were exhibiting work they have produced on the AA2A residency programme, Clara Vuletich and Joyce Addai-Davis.

The AA2A project is a national set of schemes, providing visual artists and designer makers with the opportunity to undertake a period of research or realize a project, using workshop and supporting facilities in fine art and design departments of Higher and Further education institutions, such as Chelsea College of Art and Design. This gives participating artists and makers the opportunity to use equipment which otherwise might not be available to them, as well as benefiting the institution by bringing ideas and techniques which may not otherwise enter the college environment.

Clara's body of work was made up of digitally enlarged and printed textiles, derived from very personal and cherished pieces of scraps and old clothing holding memories and emotion from the past, these were all enlarged and simply digitally printed onto a large panel of organic cotton/hemp.By enlarging these tiny fragments of memory and resourcefulness, they are now given the attention they deserve. This could be used to re-invigorate old heirloom pieces, and could be applied to cushions, quilts or any household textiles.These ideas of using contemporary digital technology to throw new light onto the sentimental, capturing and enhancing the feelings held within our textile past, are poetic, moving but manage to be uplifting and thoroughly modern, I would love to see these pieces hung in Dover St Market, to really bring to life the past for today's world.

Joyce's work was a collaboration between herself and Emma Hamshare, these woven panels are made using a jacquard loom to weave into the cloth the lay plan and cutting shapes for a full set of garment pattern pieces, though beautiful to hang on a wall, this piece of work is also a true comprehension of using the technology we have now to enhance the sentiment and craft of our history. Very contemporary, very clever and very thoughtful, can't wait to see more!