Thousands of hand knotted strips of fabric
Playing with material, height, direction, thickness
White on white
Conveying calm and elegance
FABRIC SERIES
100*100cm
September 2022
Construction
Pergola, Italia
Fabric Textile Art Onda by Stéphanie Chauvel | sc_patterndesign | surface pattern design
80*100cm
July 2022
Onda
Milano, Italia
How it all started?
At the very beginning I was using calligraphy paper, that I had brought back from China in my suitcases, as I left Shanghai after 23 years in Asia... I still use paper from time to time as it offers a lot of potential in creativity: I can draw, paint or stain on paper. It is soft enough to be manipulated and torn. But paper is very fragile and can break easily if I pull too hard as I make a knot.
I was showing my paper works to some of my friends, owners of a high end denim lab. They had rolls of unused fabric bias in stock, and offered a few of them to experiment with. The rolls were mostly white and of different width, thickness and texture. I got hooked immediately and started using them. First with small pieces and then I adventured to larger and larger pieces, until I used out all of the available stock! Now I am at the point where I need to order them or look for more unused rolls.
Fabric Textile Art "Traces" by Stéphanie Chauvel | sc_patterndesign | surface pattern design
Fabric Textile Art "Corner" by Stéphanie Chauvel | sc_patterndesign | surface pattern design
What are they made of?
The textile pieces are made of strips of fabric bias. The bias come in rolls of various length, width and material. I cut the strips according to the desired effect. Once cut, I fix them to a base structure with a very simple and basic knot making technique. Each work actually means a lot of strips being cut and requires before-hand thinking on the shape, the dimensional and directional effects I wish to give to the piece. I first sketch a draft on plain white paper, and then use millimetric paper to get a more detailed plan of my work to use as a guide. I often get new ideas as I am making them, thus allowing myself to change idea and to follow the new more suitable one. Sometimes I get stuck with the inherent limitations and have to rethink and find solutions! That's also the fun of it.

Texture detail

Fabric Textile Art "Exposed" by Stéphanie Chauvel | sc_patterndesign | surface pattern design
Why white?
The rolls I was offered were white! But I do love the varying effects that stem from the different directions, and textures. I love how the knots meet and overlap or how they get away from one another. I feel they have a story to tell, and white on white also allows that. I wonder if I'll ever get tired of white, probably not!
The inherent sense of calm and purity of white makes it also very attractive to me, and what was a constrain originally is now something that I look for.
Fabric Textile Art "Building" in white by Stéphanie Chauvel | sc_patterndesign | surface pattern design
What do I love about it?
Despite the constraints, this type of work does offer endless possibilities. As mentioned before, size, shape, direction, dimension, thickness, texture are different parameters I can play with. Constraints never scare or discourage me, instead they challenge me and allow to be more creative, generating new outcomes.
I also very much enjoy the fact that I am using a material that would otherwise most probably be discarded. Having to deal with what I have is also a great creativity enhancer!
I also greatly enjoy the state of flow this hand work gets me into. My mind wanders, it is extremely meditative and soothing. 
Also, it is very tangible, real: as time goes by, it almost magically comes to life. And if it works, it shows quickly. If it doesn't too! If what I had in mind doesn't come through, I can just untangle the knots and start over! 
Fabric Textile Art Jewelry Black Bracelet by Stéphanie Chauvel | sc_patterndesign | surface pattern design & textile art
What am I looking for?
Beauty is an immense drive: where I live, where I go. I live in the countryside of the Marche region in central Italy, beauty is all around there, both natural and cultural. I also often travel to Paris, Lyon and Turin to visit family where I never miss a chance to visit exhibitions, new places, shops.
I hope my pieces give a sense of beauty, calm and purity to people's lives. I strive to attract one's attention and curiosity but in a subtle way. White on white creates a very elegant result, nothing obvious or ostentatious and I like that very much too. Being an introvert, this fits me very well!
Textile, creativity and geometry all in one, I have definitely found a piece of heaven!
PAPER SERIES
Porcupine Paper Art Stephanie Chauvel sc_patterndesign
Porcupine Paper Art Stephanie Chauvel sc_patterndesign
Cascade Paper Art Stephanie Chauvel sc_patterndesign
Cascade Paper Art Stephanie Chauvel sc_patterndesign
Yellow Pop Paper Art Stephanie Chauvel sc_patterndesign
Yellow Pop Paper Art Stephanie Chauvel sc_patterndesign
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