Jeni Ross - Public Art Commissions : Rugs | Tapestry

'Figure in a Landscape' Tapestry for:
House of Lords Offices No 1, Millbank. London.
Tapestry and paintings commissioned by:
The Parliamentary Works Directorate.
For the Government Art Collection.
Size:1400 x 2200mm.

The British countryside has been almost entirely changed by man and yet we are still deeply influenced by it. The relationship of a figure within a space is important to me and I wanted to convey the feeling of the figure as both dominating but also part of the landscape. Starting points for the design were paintings such as 'Mr and Mrs Andrews' by Gainsborough and drawings by Samuel Palmer. I often use the idea of night and day existing at the same time in my work and I felt this would have particular relevance to the workings of parliament.

A major feature in many antique tapestries is a curtain. This plays with the idea of a tapestry¹s function within a room, its physical nature as a textile and also with the notion of something revealed. I felt this was
particularly relevant and have designed the piece with this in mind.
Technically my tapestries refer to traditional kelim flat-weaves as well as
European tapestry and I employ a number of kelim devices such as slits and soumak, & raised lines to describe aspects of the design. I also exaggerate qualities which come from the process of weaving small areas at a time. This gives the surface added movement and changes of texture.

Commissioned 2001