Uzbek Architectural Details: "A Stitch in Tile" Exhibition, 12 - 18 October

Tiles and tapestry at Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, Samarkand. Image: Natalie Fisher

Sydney-based needlepoint artist Natalie Fisher's latest exhibition, at Rozelle's Persian Rug Co, is a  wondrous display of needlepoint tapestries inspired by Islamic tiles and architecture.

Natalie hand stitches with pure wool to represent the intricate geometric patterns of centuries-old tiles in the Islamic world.

The two ancient techniques of hand stitching and tile-making date back centuries and are traditions still practised today.

Her works have been mostly inspired by her own travels and designed from her own photographs. She travelled to Uzbekistan in May 2019.

She says of her style: "I believe my work challenges widely-held traditional perceptions of tapestry as quaint, domestic and conservative, to portray artworks that  present the medium in a new, contemporary and bold light. 

I  perceive my style of tapestry stitching as part of an artistic movement, as my technique of applying wool to a needlepoint canvas has parallels to the way in which an artist applies paint to an art canvas".

Natalie graduated with a degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of New South Wales, which introduced her to the intricacies of flora, a subject explored in depth in her early work. She was invited to exhibit at London's Chelsea Flower Show.

As well as exhibiting at major museums and galleries in Australia, Natalie also exhibited at the Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival, UAE, in December 2017.

Tile and tapestry inspired by Zangiata mosque Tashkent. Image: Natalie Fisher

Each of Natalie's pieces takes many weeks or months to produce. There are thousands of stitches in every tapestry. The time taken depends on the size, the complexity of the design, and the number of colours.

One of her most popular works 'Moroccan Mile' is 2.4m long, contains 346,636 stitches and took nine months to create.

She mixes different shades of colour in individual stitches to work in a modern realist style.

If you miss the Sydney exhibition, you can learn more about Natalie's stunning work on her website Art Weave Originals.

Her Instagram feed includes fabulous photos and there are videos on her Facebook page that overview her creative process. And several interesting images below reveal her techniques and pieces.
 

Related posts:
The Birth of Suzani - Madina Kasimbaeva's Exhibition, Tashkent
Robert Rauschenberg: Samarkand Stitches
In Search of Lost Paradise - Woodblock Exhibition, Tashkent
Sacrament of Magic Yarn - Madina Kasimbaeva's Exhibition, Tashkent

Uzbek gentleman at Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, Samarkand, examining Natalie's work. Image: Natalie Fisher

Contrast of tile and tapestry. Image: Natalie Fisher

 

Contrast of tile and tapestry. Image: Natalie Fisher

Selection of Natalie Fisher's work. Image: Natalie Fisher

Natalie Fisher at the 2017 exhibition in UAE.