Conventional and non-conventional materials in conceptual textile art

Abstract

Conceptual textile art comprises art made of fabrics, yarns/threads and fibres from animal, plant and synthetic sources, using techniques such as felt, appliqué, patchwork, quilting, embroidery, tapestry, dyeing, and painting, among others. The study explores the use of textile and non-textile materials in mixed-media techniques to produce conceptual textile art, giving more importance to the idea being expressed by an artwork. The research hinges on concept based art which focuses more on the language behind the art rather than its aesthetics. The study engages arts-based research (ABR) approach to define the presence of aesthetic qualities or design elements within both the inquiry process and the research work. It used conventional (fibre, sliver, roving, yarn, fabrics) and non-conventional (wood, cardboard, plastics, polythene) materials in conceptual textile art. The study revealed that quite a number of respondents are not aware of the term conceptual art and therefore do not practice it, giving little or no attention to textile art in the Ghanaian textile craft industry. The success of the research provides a good platform for textile artists to explore diverse materials and techniques to create conceptual textile artefacts