WORKSHEET 4 – COLOUR AND PATTERN

Choose a work in the exhibition and list which complementary colours have been used by the artist:

What is the intensity of these colours?

Colour and pattern is prominent in Troy Emery: into the wild and is also used by artist Yayoii Kusama in her Soft Sculptures (see image right).

Why do you think these artists use pattern in their work?

Does the pattern affect the way you view the object or understand its meaning? Why?

How does colour and pattern work together to recreate the subject?

ANIMALS IN FASHION, DESIGN AND POPULAR CULTURE

Animals and animal patterns have frequently been utilised and referenced by the fashion and design industries.

The most obvious example of this is the wearing of furs. Fur is widely thought to be one of the first materials used to create clothing and decorate the body, with several species of hominoids known to have used fur clothing. The fur trade first took root in ancient civilisations in the Mediterranean, and was one of the driving forces of exploration of North America and the Russian Far East. The use of animal print became popular as a status symbol as it represented wealth and was considered exotic.

Fur clothing is still produced in many countries today; however anti-fur campaigns became the focus of animal activists in the 1980s and 1990s, arguing that the practice was cruel and unnecessary.

Common animal sources for fur clothing and fur trimmed accessories include fox, rabbit, otter, seals, cats, dogs, coyotes, and possum.

Troy Emery utilises soft balls and decorative materials such as sequins to create the surface of his sculptures. These materials directly relate to the presumably soft texture of the animals which give them a fashionable and elaborate appearance. Thus, the influence of Pop Art becomes apparent as Emery makes a comment on the practices of mass culture and the use of animals as fashion.

Textiles are very prominent in Troy’s work. Textiles have been used to protect, cover and decorate the human body and to soften, insulate and decorate objects, surfaces and interior spaces for centuries. Their function as embellishments and for decorative purposes can be seen throughout the Stone Age and other ancient civilisations, the Middle Ages and Renaissance, through to the Industrial Revolution and present day.

Historically textiles are derived from a range of natural sources with the introduction of petroleum-derived synthetic fibres emerging in the 20th century. The introduction of synthetic textiles has enabled a significant expansion in the versatility and usability of textiles.

KEY TERMS: Textiles, synthetic fibre, fur, faux fur

EXPLORE: Wearable art, animal prints, animal cruelty, animal activism