BRAID SERIES Wrapped twine braids with teapots from a CURIOUS Cabinet

I began to work with braids after discovering rolls of twine manufactured by a company that was established in Australia in the late 1800’s and realised that this product was most likely available to Will. An all purpose material used for attaching and connecting, the twine acts metaphorically to connect the past with the present. I was struck not only by its texture and colour, but by the practical nature of the twine. The subsequent display of the braids has extended this concept to support objects from my collection, conflating the handmade with the machine made, the organic with the inorganic, and exposing the normally concealed or understated hanging devices that museums and galleries utilize.

The braid for this piece took some time to develop and was finally inspired by Evie, the nine year old daughter of my picture framer.  She had made up some string key rings to sell at her fathers outlet and as soon as I saw them I realised that her idea was a good solution for me.  With her permission I have used the idea and while they are not braids in the true sense of the word they have the appearance I was after.  Taking several lengths o string in a bundle another one is twined around to encase them.  It is the knots at each end that prevent them from unravelling.

A more constrained support then the other braids of this series, with minimal scribing on the wall, they nonetheless provide a simple method of suspending the vintage teapots so that the bases lay flat against the viewing wall.  Suspended by the handles, the teapots will never be able to hold the quenching liquid of generations of farmers and graziers, their wives and families, throughout Australia, as the spout is directed towards the floor, they become a metaphor for vanishing histories.  Of course I am not sure that I would consider drinking from these pots, but their histories of other cups of tea in other homes conjures up memories of the endless teapot that stood on the table at Bellendedn Plains in my time, and no doubt, in Will’s, and the hospitality that was never withheld.  Thirty (30) teapots, one for each year of Will’s life.  Wall fixing not included.