HELEN PHILIPP

MY WORK

helen philipp

‘Stitch by stitch, circle by circle, weaving is like the creation of life, all things are connected”. Auntie Ellen Trevorrow, 2003

​

Although predominantly using Ngarrindjeri weaving style taught to me by Elder and mentor Ellen Trevorrow, my work has departed from the use of native grasses in favour of dyed Madagascan raffia, paper twine,  wire and found plastics. The focus of my sculptural work is colour, as it complements and enhances form. My weavings draw inspiration from the vibrant colours and circular forms of ocean creatures, using enlarged photographs of plankton as a reference for creating sculptural forms. 

SOLO EXHIBITION
"14 PIECES"

Carlisle Street Art Space
May 12-June 9 2021

A show of woven sculpture which explores the increasing presence of waste plastics on the foreshore and their effect on marine plant and animal life.

THREE SQUIDS

2019

'Three Squids'  took my weaving to a new level of complexity and intricacy. I work in fine stitches. There is no frame. The density of the stitch creates a solid form. I use a netting stitch with the basic coiling stitch to create the squid's frills.

THREE SQUIDS-DETAIL

2019

Close up of one of the squids

FLOTILLA

2018-2019

In Flotilla the eleven Jelly Fish are suspended on fishing line. They are light and catch the breeze easily. The constant movement  creates the sense of weightless floating.

RED AND WHITE TINTINNID

2020

A year ago, I began to collect plastic debris from the foreshore of St. Kilda to stop it washing out to sea and being ingested by birds, sea animals and fish.  I have started to incorporate them into my woven sea creatures, aiming to raise awareness of the ingestion of plastics which is occurring and the risk to the ecosystem this poses. It also demonstrates how, through the creative process, we can begin to rethink our relationship with plastics; I hope to promote more awareness of the way we use and dispose of everyday items such as straws and bottle tops.