Once again I’m back at the Barbican Library for an extraordinary exhibition with very different but fascinating themes.
Alison Aye’s first work, entitled Exile Textiles, was started 31st March 2020 and finished on 29th September that year. It illustrates a horrendous period of her life as she cared for her mother, who had terminal cancer, and her father who suffered a stroke. She also lost her job during this period which, of course, coincided with the Covid lockdown. Also included are later pieces from Exile Textiles II: The New Normal and Exile Textile III: The Prequel.
Before you glance at my images I urge you to have a look at Alison’s blog which explains the works in more detail. I promise you it’s not all doom and gloom – it’s very funny in places. For example, do you remember YOU HAVE NO AUTHORITY HERE JACKIE WEAVER! Or Barbara Windsor as Peggy Mitchell yelling ‘Get outta my pub!’ Or Dominic Cummings allegedly calling Carrie Symonds, now Mrs Johnson, ‘Princess Nut Nuts’. I certainly do – and they are all referenced here.
Here is Alison’s blog, it’s entitled EXILE TEXTILES AN EXPLANATION
Alison has the following to say about the other work on display, Civilisation:
‘In ‘Civilisation’, I’m questioning the bias of my early art education, which came mainly from Lord-Sir-Baron-Kenneth-Clark, born into a wealthy ‘textiles family’, and his popular television BBC programme/book, ‘Civilisation’. I’ve made stitched collages from said book (published by BBC/John Murray, this edition 1971), combined with discarded gallery (mainly Tate) magazines. Lord-Sir-Baron-Kenneth omitted female artists from his account, which is what started me off on these collages, but as the project progressed I have annoyingly fallen in love with the snobby bastard. I don’t agree with what he is saying a lot of the time, but his style of writing is superb and an utter joy to read.’
Images from Civilisation:
Alison’s history of Royal Academy submissions …
She finally made it into the Royal Academy Summer Show last year after 31 attempts …
The winning work (not on display at the Library) …
You can read more here.
Sharing the Library space with Alison is Kemi Athene Pennicott …
The Library exhibition runs until 28 August.
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