‘Colour is my obsession. Through a unique process of extremely refined hand dyeing and weaving I have been able to capture powerful ‘colourfields’ within a constructed surface. Each thread echo’s a painted line. Intelligent colour theory underpins an emotional exploration of intuitive colour.’
‘Colour is my obsession. Through a unique process of extremely refined hand dyeing and weaving I have been able to capture powerful ‘colourfields’ within a constructed surface. Each thread echo’s a painted line. Intelligent colour theory underpins an emotional exploration of intuitive colour.’
Ptolemy Mann is recognized for her unique hand-dyeing and weaving techniques, which serve as the foundation for her distinct wall-based architectural artworks. Her work embodies a modern-day Bauhaus philosophy, seamlessly blending art, design, and colour theory. Mann’s innovative approach has solidified her place as a leader in contemporary textile art.
With over 25 years of experience, Mann recently unveiled a new body of work, Thread Painting. This series explores the dynamic relationship between paint and textiles, combining two mediums in a groundbreaking way. In Thread Painting, Mann paints strokes of colour onto her tightly woven panels. The acrylic paint create a gestural colour field, which contrasts with the linear woven structure beneath.
This process merges the Abstract Expressionist “soak stain painting” technique with the Bauhaus philosophy of craftsmanship, creating a striking contrast between painted and woven elements. By blending the two, Mann challenges traditional boundaries in both weaving and painting, pushing the limits of what each medium can express.
Former Tate Modern curator Ann Coxon observes, the brushstrokes in Thread Painting are ‘loaded with paint and meaning’. Coxon explains that the brushstrokes, though they may appear to ‘obliterate’ the woven surface, actually enhance the artwork’s color dynamics and materiality. The interplay between the paint and the woven fabric creates complex interactions: sometimes harmonizing, other times juxtaposing, and occasionally bleeding into the fibers, blurring the boundaries between structure and surface, painted and woven.
In Coxon’s words, while the historical significance of both painting and weaving shapes our understanding of Mann’s work, her thread paintings possess a distinct “seductive beauty and materiality,” drawing viewers into their tactile and visual complexity.
Ptolemy Mann’s work has been widely exhibited globally, with solo exhibitions in the US, UK, Switzerland, and Germany. Her site-specific installations, such as Circadian Rhythm commissioned by the Tate Modern in London, further highlight her innovative approach to integrating textiles and art in public spaces. Mann has also published her first monograph, Thread Painting, showcasing the evolution of her art and process.
Ptolemy Mann lives and works in Britain.
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