HANNAH WHITE
Sculptural Textiles
Extraordinary textiles, artworks and materials
'Hannah White's talent as a weaver is phenomenal and I continue to be amazed and enthralled by what she can achieve with textile materials and construction methods'. Professor Catherine Harper PHD
01 about
As a weaver I am fascinated by how textiles can create sculptural forms. By using my extensive textile knowledge I create framed artworks, free standing sculptures and materials that aim to engage the senses and enrich interior spaces. Through materials-led exploration my work uses woven and stitched threads to form three-dimensional structures, often combining cross-disciplinary materials and processes.
Enquires are welcomed for art pieces, bespoke fabric commissions and collaborative projects.
As a specialist in woven fabrics and constructed textiles I have worked in textiles for over 25 years as an artist, designer and academic. I completed a Doctorate in Textiles Innovation at the Royal College of Art in 2019, where I developed a new composite material. I am a graduate from MA Design for Textile Futures at Central Saint Martins and I have a 1st Class BA (Hons) degree in Woven Textiles.
02 portfolio examples
Ammonite Shadow Series
My ‘Ammonite Shadow’ series explores the interplay between the patterns within the woven structure of my fabrics, three-dimensional form and light. Inspired by the textural shapes of Ammonite fossils, the pleated forms spiral and curve, creating contemporary ‘textile fossils’.
As the sunlight moves across each piece it creates a series of changing shadows at different times throughout the day, emphasising the form. Directional artificial light creates dramatic crisp sharp shadows, adding another dimension to the work. The monochrome colour palette draws reference from the black and white illustrations of 19th Century geology artists, such as Ernst Haeckel, who captured Ammonites’ sculptural qualities in such exquisite detail.
Fluidity and Rigidity Sculptures
My ‘Fluidity and Rigidity’ series explores the contrasts between textile’s fluidity and metal’s rigidity. During my Doctorate at the Royal College of Art, I undertook an apprenticeship at a metal workshop to learn the technique of electroforming. I combined this new knowledge with many years' experience as a weaver to create a hybrid material called Metal Integral Skeleton Textiles (MIST).
Pliable conductive threads are woven within my bespoke cloth and during the electroforming process metal only forms onto these specific threads within the weave. The hard metal provides structure, whereas the fluid textile allows areas to fold, creating possibilities for sculptural forms.
03 Making Processes
Engineering with thread
My woven work explores the subtle interplays of designing woven cloth through exploring the combinations of the weave construction, the choice of thread characteristics and how these change the fabric’s appearance when using different finishing processes. I also create bespoke fabrics and collections for clients.
As a weaver, I instinctively think about how to integrate the visual aspects and the construction of the fabric at the same time rather than sequentially. This method allows me to create fabrics that have very specific characteristics and properties. I describe my process as ‘engineering with thread’. By using finishing processes on my textiles, I activate different threads within the weaving to change the fabrics surface and to create three-dimensional textures.
Metal Integral Skeleton Textiles (MIST)
‘MIST’ is a hybrid textile and metal material that I developed during my PhD research at the Royal College of Art. I collaborated with metal engineers and a weaving mill to create this innovative material. MIST has a rigid metal skeleton framework within a pliable woven textile which allows for an organic textile like appearance, whereas the metal creates a rigid self-supporting form. The drape and softness of the fabric areas is a strong contrast to the rigid areas of the metal. Please contact me for more details about MIST sculptural art pieces.
04 Contact
Please get in touch by email to purchase artworks, discuss your project and any specific design concepts or design requirements. Bespoke designs/ art can be created for individual clients and projects.
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