During the first world wide Covid 19 lockdown in 2020, I had the time to experiment and play with one of my first loves – fabric and thread. As someone who always has fabric of all shapes, sizes, and colours at hand, I could indulge myself with whatever comes to mind.
In New Zealand we had daily TV updates from our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield. Every day we would follow along and see how we stack up against the rest of the world, which was very positive and reassuring. Knowing exactly what was going on, was reassuring in a time of distress/much doubt, and even though some of the rules weren’t always 100% clear, we were for the most part completely up to date with the development of the pandemic. Someone even registered these daily updates on IMDb as the 1pm Daily Update.
Given the pervasive presence of our Prime Minister during lockdown, I decided to create a Jacinda Ardern fabric portrait. I think everyone in NZ felt a connection with her, and quite a number of portraits of her seem to have been created at the time. This is my version.
Jacinda #1
This textile artwork was included in the Changing Threads 2021 Contemporary Textile Fibre Art Awards. The exhibition ran from 26 February to 20 March 2021 at the Refinery ArtSpace in Nelson, New Zealand.
Size: 3280x2360mm
The work is made up of 6745, 40x40mm, coloured, patterned and textured textile squares (pixels) overlapped and stitched together, reinforced with a backing sheet. By building up the image using textile pixels, the work comments on the pervasiveness of digital imagery in modern media. The size of the work reflects the larger than life stature and reassuring presence of the New Zealand Prime Minister during the Covid-19 lockdown. Adhering to the ideology of Miriam Schapiro’s waste-not-want-not femmages, this piece was created from old clothing, manchester, rice bags, and off-cuts.
Jacinda #2
Working with smaller ‘pixels’ ended up being a bit fiddly, and very time consuming. This piece is made up of 4624 pixels.
Size: 1150x1200mm.
Created with upcycled opshop clothing and fabric scraps.
‘Madiba’ (Nelson Mandela)
‘No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.’
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (1918-2013).
After completing the Jacinda portraits, and quite enjoying the challenge of these large portrait quilts, I decided to also do a portrait of another inspirational leader – this time the one and only Madiba, South Africa’s first post-Apartheid President, and a worldwide symbol of peace and reconciliation. Based on a photograph kindly shared with me by my friend and professional photographer, Lourens Uiterweerde.
5576 pixels
Size: 2300x2700mm
I subsequently created a few more of the pixelated portraits. All of them with the smaller size ‘pixels’.
“Francois (1964-2018)”
I created this piece in memory of a family friend, on what would have been his 57th birthday (7 February 2021). He was gunned down (presumably assassinated) on his way to work, in a country where life has sadly become worth nothing.
Size: 1320x1830mm
5940 pixels
“In memory of Stian (2003-2019)”
Thinking of our friends who lost their son, and brother to cancer on 28 August 2019. He is now running with the angels. Whanau Van Greunen, you remain in our thoughts and prayers. ❤️
Size: 900x1200mm
2700 pixels.
Care imoji
Be caring. Be kind. Take care.
Wouna le Roux 
Leave a comment