80% (Disappearance)
Woven Tapestry
This was quite an emotional piece to weave. I have always loved butterflies and moths, as a young girl I remember the buddleia bush in the back garden being full of butterflies in the summer so to learn that since the 1970’s there has been an 80% decrease in abundance, distribution or both of British Butterflies was heart breaking. Another reason why as we destroy more and more natural habitat we must understand and provide nature with a chance of survival and find a new balance.
My tapestry aims to represent the 80% loss with only small areas of solid pattern colour of a butterfly wing. The large wing shape and pattern is that of the Black Veined White butterfly which has been extinct from Britain since 1925. The coloured wool woven areas of the wing are patterns taken from some of the butterflies which are on Britain’s vulnerable list today, with wing pattern and colour of the
Wall,
Grayling,
Glanville Fritillary,
High Brown Fritillary,
Marsh Fritillary,
Brown Hairstreak,
White Letter Hairstreak and Black Hairstreak.
The main fibre used in the tapestry is old fishing line, the piece being tightly woven at the bottom of the wing, the delicate threads weave in and out of the composition becoming looser as it reaches the top and begins to fade. Black vein threads hang down as if it is coming apart at the seams emphasizing the urgent need to protect and provide habitat for these fragile creatures before they too disappear.
80% (Disappearance) Woven Tapestry in repurposed clear and coloured fishing line monofilament fibres, wool and cotton. 2022
To learn about butterflies, the decline and how to help visit the butterfly conservation website
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