Posted on November 20th, 2018 by Jane Fairhurst

The textile work I am currently engaged with developed from a long term interest in Islamic textiles and later research into amulets, talismans and fetish objects following my discovery that they continue to be regarded as objects of agency in many parts of the world. My initial interest being sparked by a book I purchased from Manchester Museum back in 2008, Sheila Paine’s Amulets, a Secret World of Power, Charms and Magic.

My own textile sculptures are constructed from randomly cut pieces of cloth remnants collected from numerous sources and include contemporary fabrics from around the world. The resulting sculptures are embellished with amulet devises; buttons, shiny objects, beads, nazaars, embroidered knots and twisting threads, as those used for protection in traditional clothing of the Middle East.

Small fetish objects with kelim and suzani

Small fetish objects, work in progress

Small fetish objects – detail