As part of our festive Christmas exhibition we are showing some experimental abstract textile and paper wall pieces by Helyne Jennings, as well as continuing to display her colourful paper brooches and ear studs. Graduating from the Royal College of Art in 1981, Helyne has established herself as a contemporary textile/mixed media artist.
Helyne says of her work "I am a constant experimenter using many types of media on paper and cloth with hand and machine stitch. Fibre and thread are an extension of paint and blend to create abstract canvasses using bold colour, shape and texture.
I greatly admire the works of mid 20th century abstract painters such as John Hoyland, Mark Rothko, Anthoni Tapies, Howard Hodgkin & Gillian Ayres with their use of vibrant colour, symbolism and emotion.
My work is motivated by emotion, a reaction to a time and a place, by current affairs and life’s twists and turns. Inspiration also comes from the landscape and coastline in the area of Devon where I live and from experiences gained through travel.
My current pieces are a flashback to times of travel which have been brought to the fore recently reflecting my experiences during times spent in the Middle East and South East Asia. There is a clarity to the light in such places that intensifies colour making it ’clean’ and vibrant.
Colour is an important vehicle that helps convey feelings and atmosphere. Even if the mood can seem dark there is always a positive aspect to be found in each piece.
I feel compelled to create textile art. I have been creating and evolving my wall pieces since 1981 and am committed to the acceptance of textiles as a Fine Art."