“In my first hour in Bhubaneshwar I went from excited to stimulated and finally to a level of creative saturation that has stayed with me. In this exhibition I am taking what I saw as a way of life and trying to reinterpret it so that viewers can understand the nature of a circular economy. To grow the cloth, harvest the fibre, spin, weave and fashion the garment.

To wear the garment, explore it’s uses and finally have the cloth breakdown into the soil and be part of the ongoing cycle.

You can paint or draw with thread, you can wear the landscape and you can see a feeling."

 

Ellen Howell    Artist Statement

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I came to my art practice later in life via a commercial route that took me through design, marketing and publishing.
 

In 2017 I was invited to India as part of a textile residency in Odisha. The background of my practice had been in drawing, painting and mixed media. I had a passion for block printing and was searching for a way to combine my visual and textile practice.
 

By weaving, drawing, dyeing and mixing age-old traditions with modern techniques, my aim is to delight the viewer with unexpected stories. I use golden jute, Tussar, mulberry and banana silk dyed naturally and woven in the Saori style. My cloth panels are block printed with my hand carved original designs.

A featured piece in the exhibition is a collaborative work with textile artist and designer, Michelle Tindale. I met Michelle in India and formed a close creative relationship with her.

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I am also fortunate to have gained permission from Utsav Lal to use his music at my exhibition. Utsav Lal is an Indian pianist, improviser, educator and composer. Utsav Lal is recognized as a musician extraordinaire who has set a precedent in the world of music with his rendition of Ragas on the Piano.