Hilal Sami Hilal makes handmade paper using the cotton from old clothes given by friends and family – these are physical and emotional remnants and it uses the idea of drawing on old memories to create something new. Hilal evokes the ‘fragility and sensuality’ of lace in his delicate work which, I feel, adds to the idea of fading or disjointed memories. He adds metal powders to areas of his work to cause patination, giving the paper a corroded appearance and reinforcing the idea of transformation over time. I’ve taken this concept in my own work using iron filings to stain fabric and create rust. I have also grown mould from yogurt, milk, bread and coffee to see how it naturally develops over time. This has given some interesting visual effects.
Hilal has also looked at deconstruction, using acid to corrode copper and create complex patterns; this contrasts construction and deconstruction ‘to obtain the same outcome: fragility, transparency, emptiness.’ This has potential in fabric, with the possibility of using acid to remove areas of the fabric or with free machine embroidery on dissolvable fabric leaving only a framework.
These ideas follow the concept of staining and leaving a ‘ghost’ or skeleton of what used to be there.