Residue
The impression of past generations through the possessions they leave behind is the subject of this work, communicated through the exploration of embossed textiles that were once common but are now, though treasured as heirlooms, no longer useful in daily living. These items range from decorative handmade doilies and embroidered pillowcases, or utilitarian handkerchiefs and dish towels, to more intimate items - articles of clothing that came in regular contact with the body. I experimented with larger pieces, such as sleepwear and button-down shirts, as well as careworn, vintage women’s formal gloves, to explore the power of the ‘thing’ to convey ideas of femininity, protection, nurturing, and lineage. The embossing, like a photograph, simultaneously communicates a ghostly presence in absence of the item depicted.
