Beardsley 17.08.20

Artist Statement

The pandemic changed many aspects of life. When visiting the Aubrey Beardsley Exhibition at Tate Britain Darren felt an unexpected unease in mixing with others. His piece reflects this and the dark beauty of Beardsley’s drawings, his use of line, tone, pattern and composition. Mourning handkerchiefs are used to frame each image of an imagined viewer at the show, the faces taken from online mask adverts. Images of overlapping virus molecules create darkly glistening decorative pattern and tone. Made as a diptych the pieces relate to each other, as viewers did at the exhibition and are intended to be hung uncomfortably close to each other.

Free machine embroidery and hand embellishment on 2 vintage mourning handkerchiefs with a wool felt mount. Applique with velvet, sequined fabrics, organza, tulle, transfer adhesive paper and other found fabrics. Sequins, delica beads and Swarovski crystal are used for embellishment.