On Thursday, 10 October, the Lower Sixth Textiles students visited the Knit and Stitch Show at Alexandra Palace, London, for an inspiring day exploring the world of contemporary textile art and design.
The event, one of the largest textile exhibitions in the country, featured a wide range of displays and opportunities for pupils to engage with the creative industry. They viewed work by professional textile artists, explored the graduate showcase, admired quilt-making competition winners, and browsed hundreds of stalls offering a dazzling variety of textile materials and supplies.
This year’s coursework theme, ‘Structure’, provided a perfect lens through which to experience the exhibition. Students were particularly inspired by the work of Marian Jazmik, known for her intricate, three-dimensional textile structures inspired by forms found in nature. They also admired the striking creations of Chilean artist Carmen Mardonez, whose oversized, sculptural pieces brought texture and colour vividly to life.
The visit offered students a valuable opportunity to see how professional artists interpret concepts such as structure, texture, and form — and to gather ideas for their own coursework projects.
Students pictured in front of ‘Pinky Promise’, a giant embroidered wall piece by Chilean artist Carmen Mardonez.
