A.C.E

Application of colour . Couching . Engagement

The American Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) study, demonstrated that when adversity and trauma are experienced during early years of childhood, there are implications on the developing brain which affect our emotional health and more surprisingly, Physical health throughout childhood and into adulthood.
While the ACE movement sweeps Scotland,  this collection asks that we stop asking ‘why are you bad?’ and instead ask “what happened to you?’ The connection and relationship between myself the maker and the collection was of great significance, whilst mixing a technological process of laser cutting and pushing traditional hand embroidered techniques, such as  applique, couching and wrapping. She takes her colourful palette from childhood play and Buddhist artefacts. While the graphic repeats are controlled depictions of the unpredictable shapes from biological representations of the human body. A.C.E consists of questionable surfaces that translate into playful yet sophisticated textiles  for interior, furnishings and instillations. The collection evokes curiosity and the need to interact physically. If you stop and take time to understand what is going on in each piece, by taking a closer look beyond the surface, maybe then a deeper understanding can be had. Perhaps society could do the same when young people are ‘problematic’ and help create environments where positive, sustainable relationships can flourish. Providing a platform where the ‘problematic’ young person can visualise a positive self.