Textiles: Yemi Awosile’s Textile Soundscapes
Also on display at Africa Utopia was a new body of work by London-based textile designer Yemi Awosile. Inspired by her Nigerian heritage Yemi set out to explore the relationships between sound, textiles and space. Entitled Lagos, the installation saw Yemi design a collection of printed textiles that give a physical form to sound. Incorporating audio components, the textiles make use of a combination of sound conductive and non-conductive materials to present a sound piece by Nigerian sound and video artist Emeka Ogboh Yemi called ‘UnderBridge’. Available to listen on Yemi’s website, the recording was taken from Lagosoundscape; a series of recordings documenting the urban environment in the city of Lagos, Nigeria.
Yemi used the placement of pattern and colour to echo the musical arrangement of the rhythms of voices against the background music, and the sense of distance created by loud reverberations and soft sounds. This piece forms part of a larger series of projects exploring the parallels between textiles and technology; and how they have an effect on the movement of people; and the ability to build connections, in a place where it can offer or hinder freedom.
Yemi is a designer living and working in London who designs materials for objects and spaces. An interest in social culture and a passion for materials and processes informs her work. Yemi graduated from Chelsea College of Art and earned her MA Textiles Design at the Royal College of Art. The wider scope her practice involves working with the public and has seen collaborations with creative’s, artists and organisations within the visual arts and design sectors including the Institute of Making; Crafts Council; British Council; Victoria and Albert Museum; and the Tate. During the London Design Festival 2014, you can catch up with Yemi as part of the Saturday Market Project, which is hosting space for making, material experimentation, free drop-in workshops, demonstrations, and masterclasses. Her free drop-in workshop will take place on the 21st September from 2pm – 5pm. At 73 Leonard St, London, EC2A 4QS
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For further information about Yemi Awosile visit: http://yemiawosile.co.uk[Image credit: Images shown belong to: Yemi Awosile. If downloaded and used elsewhere must be credited accordingly]