Mutant Benefit

Spin was an exhibition connected with the textile department at the V&A and curated by Jane Langley. Clare Browne, curator of textiles, aided the research, which was supported by Morris and Co. (http://www.william-morris.co.uk). The invited artists were asked to respond to the V&A textile collection, whilst maintaining the concerns of their personal practice. Participating artists included Helen Ireland and Kathleen Mullaniff.My interest in Lepidoptera led me to investigate the production of silk and the life history and farming of the silk moth Bombyx mori. Texts from both the V&A and information from the Lullingstone Silk Farm in Dorset led to an understanding of the complexities and history of production but of greater interest to me are the particular condition of the silk moth species. Briefly, the insect species used for most production and manufacture of the finest silk is Bombyx Mori, a species originating from China that became extinct in the wild about 3000 years ago. Now it only survives in domestic situations and has evolved noticeably in this circumstance - losing the ability to fly as an adult, fading in colour and, in the larval stage, it is unable to climb or cling to vertical surfaces.The works developed responded to this species specific information, developing both a book object ‘Silk Book’ and a sculptural work ‘Mutant Benefit’. ‘Mutant Benefit’ presented a cluster of silk moth specimens on the wall that a centrally placed moth was projected onto by a 35mm slide projector. This illuminated a detail from a Chinese silk painting of flora onto the insect’s wings and body. An original photographic slide was produced, hand painted and altered before a copy was made. A pamphlet including and essay by Sue Hubbard accompanied the show. Detailed information is available at: http://www.thepatternlab.com/2006/10/spin.php.