“Silk Voyage” is the 4th sculpture with flax and branches or canes that I have made this summer about voyages and the sea. Two smaller ones, are in Manchester Academy of Fine Arts Exhibition, “Voyages” at Manchester Cathedral in August 2025, and small one has been sent to Yatoo in Gong-ju in South Korea for their exhibition ”12cm x 12 cm x 12cm” held annually.
I have a huge flax growing at the bottom of my garden and which very tempting to use. It is very flexible and green when newly cut - ideal for weaving - and slowly dries to a yellowish green and hardens. This is the largest work and will stand on the ground.
Following the CAN visit to the Silk Museum, I realized that the weaving with flax that had done for the other 3 sculptures were perfect for this exhibition having seen the looms and beautiful fabrics. I was also thinking of the Silk Road, active since 2nd century which connected East and West. Silk was a major commodity and the Silk Road from China came through Macclesfield with its own Silk Road, renowned for its silk industry.
