Artist information
Living on the Ridgeway National Trail, where Wiltshire and Oxfordshire meet, Ushma creates evocative textile art reflecting the stunning landscapes which surround her and exploring the subject of mental health through her art.
Ushma says of the Ridgeway, “you can see for miles, and I can’t get over the changeability of the views; the light can change in minutes altering the view completely. You can stand with a camera taking a dozen pictures in ten minutes to find they look like different scenes, the changing seasons are fascinating as well, with seasonal flowering bringing dramatic colours into the landscape.” This inconsistency is an interesting contrast in a place with such a long history, where the essence of the view has remained the same for centuries.
The pieces Ushma creates depict this rural countryside in a medium which captures light, depth and texture better than she feels she could achieve with paint. As she says, “When ‘painting’ landscape views in fibre, capturing light, shadows, depth and texture is almost done for me by the fibre.”
‘Bluebell woods, poppy fields and rapeseed fields are particular favourites of mine and they appear frequently in my work. Luckily regular displays provide plenty of inspiration right on my doorstep, including bluebells at Badbury Clump’
More recently Ushma’s textile work has extended toward the abstract and vibrant work that can be seen in here and in her studio today. She has been exploring the subjects of mental health and moods through the seasons and the symbolism, history and mythology of local flora and fauna in relation to our health and wellbeing.
Having started using fibre in her work in 2015, Ushma is continuously exploring new techniques to achieve the desired effect. She uses a variety of fibres including wool, silk, camel, alpaca, llama, angora, flax, seaweed, bamboo and acrylic, always looking for the right fibre and texture for the detail and enjoying the challenge of learning new techniques. Experimenting with new ways to cut and use silk cocoons is her latest obsession.
Exhibition information
This year I am excited to be exhibiting my work at Great British Revivals in Faringdon. My large fibre artworks will be on display in the upstairs gallery and I will have small works and original fibre cards for you to browse too. I will be working on a new piece at the venue so you can see how these pieces are made, feel the materials and try out some of the techniques for yourself. I will be available to demonstrate and answer any questions during your visit.