Conversations with Textiles - VI

In advance of our exhibition we asked all of our members to describe their Conversations with Textiles. We are linking this with an Instagram week when that artist will share some of their process and work. @curious_threads

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Jane Falls

From as far back as I can remember, textiles have been a constant source of fascination and delight for me. I often wonder whether, even in those early days, I was already having an unspoken dialogue with the fabrics that surrounded me. As a child, I found immense satisfaction in creating my own garments, carefully choosing fabrics that felt right for each piece. There was a distinctive sense of creative freedom in these choices—the ability to shape something entirely unique, simply by considering which materials to use.

Venturing into the world of textile art, I found myself drawn to techniques such as dyeing, mark making, and, most significantly, breakdown printing. Working within my preferred abstract style, I came to realise that these processes facilitated a genuine dialogue between myself and the fabric. The material seemed to communicate with me—guiding my choices and influencing decisions regarding colour, texture, and the manner of embellishment.
Unlike pictorial adaptation, which for me can feel restrictive or predetermined, abstract interpretation allows the conversation with the textile to unfold freely. The fabric itself takes the lead, offering creative satisfaction as I respond to its cues, and together we shape the final piece through an ongoing and dynamic exchange.

Jane Falls