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In early 2000 Western Australian artist, Gabrielle Woodhams saw a unique way to combine her clothes making skills with her love of printmaking, in the form of collagraphy. Woodhams has found her unique expression in fabric and clothing, many pieces worn by the people closest to her. For example, her daughter's first bikini, her husbands old polo shirt, a singlet of her own and may other well-loved garments from her friends wardrobes.
In creating something permanent, the garment itself is lost, as the fabric is totally destroyed by the printing process. Therefore the offer of clothing like this is made with total trust and the result is something extraordinary. Each artwork is lifesize and the detail incredible. The clothing having been pressed flat onto the paper appears to be illuminated as if placed on a lightbox. This now reveals, in minute detail, every tiny hole, seam, button and mending. It also shows the delicate texture and weave of the fabric itself. You can imagine this clothing being worn and loved.
When Woodhams ran out of old stuff to destroy from her family's wardrobe, she started trawling through op-shops for telling pieces. Delicate undergarments are her favourite of all, although old pairs of jeans, socks and much loved T-shirts have also made it into many private collections.
Woodhams had a studio specially built to accommodate the large manual press she uses for her artworks. The work is labour intensive with every part of the process done by hand. The glues, inks and dyes are all organically based which is not easy to achieve as a lot of printmaking techniques are fairly toxic.
She has exhibited frequently since 2005, including group exhibitions in Greece and China, and solo exhibitions in Geralton and Perth, WA. She has lectured in printimaking at Geralton University and has undertaken trips to Greece and the United States to further study the art of collagraphy.
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