In May 2020, Weaving Futures gave 15 contemporary artists from around Australia the unique opportunity to develop concepts for contemporary tapestry, nurturing their professional development and creativity during an extraordinarily challenging time. Through re-imagining our usual commissioning process, an inspiring portfolio of ‘loom ready’ tapestry designs emerged — opening up the possibility for these artists to work with the ATW in the future.

In 2021, support for Weaving Futures from Creative Victoria and the Playking Foundation brought tapestry designs by artists Atong Atem, Troy Emery, Eugenia Lim and Hayley Millar Baker onto our looms. ATW weavers Pamela Joyce, Emma Sulzer, Tim Gresham, and Amy Cornall collaborated with these artists, working at the forefront of Australian contemporary art practice.

Troy Emery, a Melbourne-based artist, primarily works with textiles as a sculptural medium. He examines discourses surrounding the delineation between fine art, craft and decorative arts, as well as the use of animals as decorative motifs and tokens of ecological ruination.

Depicting a fantasy Wedgwood urn adorned with kangaroos and wallabies, 'big kangaroo urn' blends a classical ceramic form with kitschy domestic Australiana. Like the broader interests within Emery’s practice, this work draws on a rich historical narrative and the representation of animals, both real and imaginary, as an allegory in medieval tapestries.

The weaver, Emma Sulzer, blended wool and cotton in hues and tones to exaggerate Emery’s textural and naive application of oil on canvas. 'big kangaroo urn' is handwoven on a #18 warp loom at three warps per cm, with six strands of yarn per bobbin.

Reflecting on the collaboration, Emery said: ‘The Weaving Futures project provided a fantastic opportunity to me that adds several professional merits to my practice. For this to present itself during the difficult times of COVID-19 lock-down was above and beyond a positive experience. ATW is truly wonderful, and it’s such a pleasure to work with them’.

The 'big kangaroo urn' tapestry is generously supported by the Playking Foundation and Creative Victoria.

For sale enquiries: contact@austapestry.com.au +61 3 9699 7885