What I do, how I do it and what I’m curious about…
As a maker I am informed and grounded by the natural world, while my curiosity is driven by unseen universal forces at play. This has led to a creative practice that seeks to explore a world beyond my sense percpetion.
Manually prepared fibres and found materials to hand are combined with non-tangible elements such as light, air currents, gravitational forces and tension. Methods of making foucs on universal techniques of weaving, knotting, twining and binding to create intra-active textile installations and sculptural weavings that manifest the notion of a lively and vibrant material world.
Working primarily with harakeke (Phormium tenax, New Zealand Flax) processes of creating are underpinned by weaving tikanga, or right actions upholding and honouring cultural values embedded withinin tradtional Maori weaving practices. An intrinsic relationship to material is maintained through time-intensive processes of making. Each considered action expresses a deep ethos of relationship with, and responsibility to, the natural world. Intentionally working with what is at hand further develops a heightened awareness of environment; while ethics, an unseen and intangible notion, becomes evident through each small accumulated and considered action.
Materials, activated by unseen phenomena, appear to respond with autonomous agency. Texitle's responsiveness to minute environmental cues allows one to become aware of being situated within a wider environmental landscape, intrinsically connected to a dynamic and lively material world.
Michelle Mayn born and based in Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau, regularly exhibits in solo and group shows in New Zealand and internationally. Recent key exhibitions include; breathing space/space breathing, St Paul Street Gallery, AKL 2023; CONTEXTILE, Contemporary Textile Art Biennial, Portugal 2022; Sculpture in the Garden, Outdoor Garden Trail, AKL 2021-22. Mayn's education includes a Masters of Visual Arts with Honours (First Class), Auckland University of Technology (2020); Traditional and Contemporary Māori Weaving, Unitec (2011) and Mixed Media at The Art Students League of New York (2017). Mayn's works are held in private collections including the Corina and David Silich collection..
Manually prepared fibres and found materials to hand are combined with non-tangible elements such as light, air currents, gravitational forces and tension. Methods of making foucs on universal techniques of weaving, knotting, twining and binding to create intra-active textile installations and sculptural weavings that manifest the notion of a lively and vibrant material world.
Working primarily with harakeke (Phormium tenax, New Zealand Flax) processes of creating are underpinned by weaving tikanga, or right actions upholding and honouring cultural values embedded withinin tradtional Maori weaving practices. An intrinsic relationship to material is maintained through time-intensive processes of making. Each considered action expresses a deep ethos of relationship with, and responsibility to, the natural world. Intentionally working with what is at hand further develops a heightened awareness of environment; while ethics, an unseen and intangible notion, becomes evident through each small accumulated and considered action.
Materials, activated by unseen phenomena, appear to respond with autonomous agency. Texitle's responsiveness to minute environmental cues allows one to become aware of being situated within a wider environmental landscape, intrinsically connected to a dynamic and lively material world.
Michelle Mayn born and based in Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau, regularly exhibits in solo and group shows in New Zealand and internationally. Recent key exhibitions include; breathing space/space breathing, St Paul Street Gallery, AKL 2023; CONTEXTILE, Contemporary Textile Art Biennial, Portugal 2022; Sculpture in the Garden, Outdoor Garden Trail, AKL 2021-22. Mayn's education includes a Masters of Visual Arts with Honours (First Class), Auckland University of Technology (2020); Traditional and Contemporary Māori Weaving, Unitec (2011) and Mixed Media at The Art Students League of New York (2017). Mayn's works are held in private collections including the Corina and David Silich collection..
