Esna Su
Esna Su is an example of an artist who works using French knitting, the technique I used to create my wire cocoons.
Her work explores concepts of memory and identity, in particular how these are shaped by political instability. She is inspired by her heritage, often using traditional Turkish textile techniques.
The pieces shown in this post are part of her collection "The Burden". The artist grew up in a town in Turkey that was home to many Syrian refugees, and she drew inspiration from these people's experience having to flee their homes, leaving behind treasured belongings, memories, and identities in order to survive. While of course my own circumstances are in no way comparable, I can draw thematic parallels here to my own work, as I too explore the idea of finding my place in a new world while missing my old home.
Interestingly, much of this work is made from tanned leather. Leather was once a skin of an animal, but here its purpose and identity has been transformed, as it now holds the shape of discarded objects. In my review, Sylvia mentioned that I should consider how the "medium informs the message" in art- the materials we work with should contribute to the point we are making. I think that Su's use of leather here is a perfect example of this concept in action.
