Amber Dekell
Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls Campus
CONFLUENCE
Textile and Fibre
Fabric, fibre, thread
My body of work is based on a site-specific study of Long Reef. My embroidered works represent both microscopic and aerial aspects of the area, with the intention of encouraging contemplation on the intricate relationship between scale and perception: their interrelation and confluence; the way in which they merge or come together. I used the processes of dyeing, embroidery and fabric manipulation to illustrate the dynamic interactions within this environment. I invite the audience to reflect on the delicate balance and unity of the natural world.
My artmaking practice has been influenced by the study and interpretation of the following artists: Michael Geddis, Julia Wright, Mirjam Gielen
Marker's Commentary
Through a nuanced dialogue with fabric, Confluence transforms humble materials to evoke a strong sense of place. The fragmented elements of the work not only document Long Reef’s physical landscape but also offer a deeply personal interpretation, using symbolic motifs to suggest limitless conceptual possibilities. The intricacies of the natural environment come into focus as the viewer is drawn into the hues and colours within the delicate tracery of threads and fibres. These emulate the organic irregularities of the headland’s rock formations, the rhythmic movement of the shoreline, and the weathered contours and surfaces of the coastline terrain.
What emerges is a sustained and refined engagement with materials, marked by innovative processes and a contemporary approach to textile practice. Demonstrated consistently within the body of work is a sophisticated understanding of fibre’s potential, challenging the flat surface through binding, wrapping, and sculpting. The result is a series of thirty diverse, complex, textured and visually engaging works that invite close inspection, rewarding sustained attention in the examination and visual reading of the coastal site.