Julia with a piece created using recycled denim and lace. Above are photographs of other pieces turned into cards
MY WORK: IDENTITY AND INTIMACY
Those two “I” words are inextricably linked for Julia Triston.
Her identity is an intrinsic part of her work which in turn is an intimate insight into her as a person. Intimacy also relates to the previously-owned underwear she uses in creations such as the bra-ra dress, bra-pod bags and knicker bunting.
In recent times Julia’s watchwords have been deconstructivism and sustainability. She is particularly interested in the memories of cloth and the wear and tear from its use.
Julia herself wore a bra-ra dress on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square to raise awareness of breast cancer. The garment included 200 bras and was, she recalls, quite heavy to wear. Among the celebrities who donated bras for the project was fashion icon Zandra Rhodes. For the Queen’s 60 years on the throne Julia’s contribution was “red, white and blue knickers to the jubilee”.
Favourite materials to work with at the moment are contrasting old lace and denim – see pictures below) and a feminist narrative runs through the work.
Faces have been a major theme over the years, starting with ones created from linear drawings where the pencil doesn’t leave the paper. From there they evolved with the second series being displayed in London and the third being more realistic with lots of colour and textures.
A professional artist, designer, maker, educator and author, Julia loves contrasts and vibrant colour and can always be recognised by her signature pink hair. She has travelled widely and has been particularly inspired by the geometric Banjara textiles from India. Lines such as those in seams form part of many pieces of work. She is not particularly inspired by natural forms but does love peacock feathers.
People who have influenced her work include the late Julia Caprara, the Spanish Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, Austrian artist and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser and the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
She has written two books with her former pupil Rachel Lombard and works with specialist traditional embroiderer Tracy Franklin in StitchBusiness, an independent textile arts school based in Durham.
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