New commission inspired by textiles for Macclesfield’s Barnaby Festival
Contemporary artist Zarah Hussain will be opening Macclesfield’s Barnaby Festival with a new commission entitled Invisible Threads, inspired by the ‘invisible history’ of the textile industry in the town.
The LED light installation will open at Macclesfield Silk Museum tomorrow (Friday 15th June).
It will show off Zarah’s signature geometric designs at its heart, inspired by researching collections from Macclesfield’s silk and textile heritage archives.
Zarah was born in Macclesfield and grew up in a weaver’s cottage. Both of her parents worked in the textile industry.
She said: “My mother fringed silk scarves, so there was always colour and pattern around. My father also worked in textiles, as did my grandfather so it had a real influence on me.”
Zarah continued: “I am interested in the invisible history of the textile industry. All these Kashmiri men and women came to Macclesfield to work here in the mills – yet this contribution is largely forgotten.
“This history and connection to India goes even further back to the Victorian era.
“Thomas Wardle, one of the silk manufacturers from Leek, visited Kashmir in 1886 and brought back samples of fabric patterns to show students at the Macclesfield School of Art as examples of good design.
“You can see how Indian textiles influenced a lot of the fabrics in Macclesfield.
“For example some of the textiles I looked at were based around a pomegranate. I don’t think that comes from the UK – it’s an Indian influence.
“The installation reflects my interest in these ‘Invisible Threads’ that connect Macclesfield to Kashmir and within it the history of my own family’s migration.
“It is fascinating to me that through Empire, a town like Macclesfield had such far-reaching global connections.”
Zarah went to Ryles Park High School in Macclesfield, where she was taught art by James Shields, before going on to study a degree in English and History at University of Manchester and then going on to study Islamic Art at The Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts.
“I was always interested in geometric art and that was what I wanted to pursue, but I wanted to do something new with it,” she explained.
Zarah now works in 3D with sculpture, animation and digital art, but the basis for her work is around mathematics and geometry.
“Everything starts with a compass and a ruler. I start my design and then generate a pattern and that develops.”
Her work has been exhibited at The Barbican, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and the William Morris Gallery in London, where she is now based.
Mandy Martinez, Barnaby’s festival manger, commented: “This year’s Barnaby Festival theme is routes/roots.
“I think Zarah has explored this in a really interesting way and we are delighted to have her exhibiting here in her hometown at The Silk Museum. It is the perfect launch for our festival.”
Both the Visual Arts Trail and Invisible Threads will be open to view from Friday 15th June, and are free of charge.
Macclesfield’s Barnaby Festival takes place from 15th June – 24th June 2018.
The full Barnaby programme and tickets for various events, can be found at: www.barnabyfestival.org.uk
Tickets are also available from Macclesfield Visitor Information Centre at Macclesfield Town Hall.
