Pattern of The World
2001
In this work Stockwell has used dressmaking patterns, pinned together and stained with tea and coffee, to create a fragile map of the world. The materials allude to Britain's colonial legacy and the way the trade of commodities like tea, coffee, and textiles, as well as human labour, has helped to shape the political and economic relations of today's world. Stockwell uses the Mercator projection, with Europe at its centre in distorted proportions, as it is regarded as a manifestation of notions of dominance and superiority that were used to justify the ruthless claiming of foreign territories during colonial times; note the sewing instructions "shorten or lengthen here".
330cm wide x 210cm high
V&A collections:
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O80231/pattern-of-the-world-drawing-stockwell-susan/
Exhibitions:
Across Boundaries at the Draiflessen Collection Germany 2018-2019
The Biggest Draw Sheffield Millenum Galleries 2004
Mapping the Imagination Victoria and Albert Museum 2003
Susan Stokwell Selected Work solo exhibition, Victoria and Albert Museum, London 2001
Publications:
V&A Magazine Front Lines pattern of the World Acquired 2001
Across boundaries Catalogue, Published by the Draifflesen Collection in 3 languages - selected pages
