an unstitched coif – December 2023
Re-embroidering Blackwork will present selected pieces from Toni Buckby’s studio research practice alongside several final works, including the first complete presentation of “an unstitched coif…” – a collective embroidery project undertaken by over 130 needleworkers in 2023
Shown in Re-embroidering Blackwork – Bloc Projects, Sheffield
December 2023
I’m one of the needleworkers and my piece will become part of the collections held by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
“I bestowed a unique significance upon a solitary 5-petaled flower within the confines of the original 16th-century design. Its singular prowess manifests as a heartbeat, pulsating through the delicate glow of an LED. This lone instance of the five-petaled flower metamorphoses into a ‘flower power’ pattern from another era, overlaying the tapestry of the past with its wishes for love and freedom. The initial design evolves into the foundation for these novel blossoms, while in the background, the enchanting algorithm of the blackwork method weaves its mystical dance.
Embarking on this project, the challenges surpassed even my prescient expectations. The strain on my vision alone posed a formidable hurdle. I toiled through the obstacle of several magnifiers, bound to my seat with a wavering resolve. My jaw wearied from the intense concentration, and my body bore the physical toll. The notion of finding pleasure in such a laborious craft eludes me. There were moments when the prospect of returning to my studio, facing another extended session at the embroidery hoop, filled me with dread.
As an apprentice needleworker, my craftsmanship may not draw accolades for its finesse; yet, the essence of this undertaking lies in the shared act of learning&labour —and the profound connections forged with the women of this & that bygone era. The patterns, in the stitches of women && embedded in the bits of a computer, possess a unique power to unite us across epochs. This is a force that transcends time, stitching together the fabric of our shared history and experiences…” >>>…bzzt