(Above) Design pair Caroline Smithson and Mehrnoosh Khadivi are pulling the wool over Exposure Gallery. © the artists
Exhibition: Wool Works, Exposure Gallery, London, until October 30 2009
Designers Caroline Smithson and Mehrnoosh Khadivi stick to a back-to-basics approach when it comes to craft.
The pair have spent five years trading their specialist design skills – Smithson's in fashion, Khadivi's in architecture – to form Craftworks, a project producing highly individual shoes, stools, wall hangings, pompom swings and soft toys.
Inspired by witchcraft and mysticism, they've spent a couple of years stitching their way around London, and for this show they've twisted hanks of wool into rope to form a pair of hanging textile works, held in place with powder-coated tubes.
Powder-coated tubes hold the hangings together. © the artists
"We are really passionate about being hands on and making all kinds of new objects in the process," says Smithson.
"We got together to form Craftworks with a mutual interest in learning and developing traditional handicraft skills, which we then interpret in new ways."
Eschewing machinery allows Craftworks to create highly individual pieces
This year they've focused on producing modern takes on macramé, a style of knotting which originates from Arab weavers in the 13th century. "It started with our leather and rubber bondage collection," reveals Smithson.
"We featured a screen, shoes and a stool all based on a classic knot. With Wool Works we've taken this one step further by making a jump in scale and incorporating our version of beadwork."
It also marks the start of an exciting few months for the duo, who will appear at London Fashion Week and create two site-specific installations for the Royal Academy.
Open 8am-7pm (6.30pm Friday), closed Saturday and Sunday. Admission free. Exposure Gallery, 22-23 Little Portland Street, London.
