Light Cloth

Light Cloth is an ongoing project investigating hand woven textile designs, using spun silk, fluorescent yarns, stainles steel, light reflective material,

The shards of coloured light gradates almost imperceptibly through the spectrum and has been developed to blend with the textile, creating a hyper-colour effect. The Light Cloth installation aims to present a self-conscious experience of subjective colour change, altering not only the perception of the light-affected colour but also its relationship to the surrounding textile. The effects of the strategically projected light and of gradating colour are subtle and meditative.

Images:

1. Detail of hand woven textile with UV light
spun silk + fluorescent yarns
2004; photographer Peter Mackertich

2. Hand woven textile with UV light
Spun silk and stainless steel
1.4metres x 40 cms
2005; photographer Peter Mackertich

3. Hand woven textile with UV + red light
Spun silk + light reflective material
1m x 30cms
2005; photographer Peter Mackertich

4. Hand woven textile installation with integral UV
MDF construction, tensioned textile
1.5 metres x 45cms
2006; photographer Peter Mackertich

5. Movie Clip Light Cloth
This movie Clip from a recent AHRC funded LIGHT_CLOTH project features a digitally generated light/colour animation which is engineered for projection within the composition of a hand woven textile.

Jennifer Shellard

Research Interests

Light emitting; Minimal textile compositions; Woven textile installations; U.V. activated fluorescent; Digital colour animation; Subjective colour interaction

Current Research

My investigation into qualities and interactions of textiles with light continue to evolve and develop through a range of processes. Research into light responsive materials initially led to the development of installations - assembled structures - which integrated hand woven textiles with concealed U.V. lighting. The effect of the illumination, whilst distinctly visible in the work, harmonised discreetly and provided a soft focus by activating fluorescent elements within the composition, decreasing gradually and with subtlety down the length of the installation.

Hand-woven lengths were tensioned over structures housing the U.V. lights. These were strategically positioned to optimise the effect of the yarns as well as enhancing the incrementally gradating weave structures. This line of enquiry has recently evolved into experiments with strategically positioned digital light projection in which animated fragments of colour very slowly change through a spectrum to interact with the engineered colour compositions of the textile. The effect is intentionally subtle and challenges the viewer's perceptual experience.
As the project continues to evolve, I aim to seek opportunities for collaborations in developing and exhibiting in architectural spaces where ambient lighting can be manipulated, and where the impact of light and colour on the various reactive materials can be precisely manipulated.