Lorna Bircham

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Lorna Bircham

Participating Project	Exchange Residency Program (Creators from abroad)
Activity Based	United Kingdom
Period	2015.6 - 2015.7

Purpose of the residency

To make a close study of archival material documenting the practice of the Boro textile tradition. This long standing practice of preserving the special resist indigo dyed hand woven cloth (Kasuri) that was synonymous with Japanese work wear. Each scrap was considered so precious that a new form of "re- cycling" developed in which new pieces were evolved from old. This is so relevant to the sustainability ethos and focus of the MA Textile Design course at Chelsea and knowledge gained would be an invaluable source for future student and staff research.
As a weaver and dyer in my own practice, the relationship with the making of cloth is integral to my association with hand weavers in India and Thailand. To continue this study in Japan would add greater meaning to the universal understanding of the importance of cloth. I would hope to visit museums, private collections, visit and hopefully take part in specialist dye and weave workshops and processes. A collaborative element would be to work with a digital designer researcher and practitioner to bring a new dimension to the project - archives as a source of design inspiration but always focusing on the history and narrative of the origin. To add greater layers and depth to design and digital translation thus maintaining the original integrity of the craft and process.
My current research is the development of digital imagery printed onto special handwoven Muga silk indigenous to the Assam region of India. The relationship and respect that exists with local cultures underpins the importance of pride in tradition in a fast pace technological climate.

Proposed outcomes:
• Impact on subject specialist teaching - imparting the potential of archive material as a source of design inspiration, the importance of appreciation of historical evidence and traditional craft processes
• Increase understanding of the unifying experience of cultural collaborations through the unifying experience of " love of cloth"

Plan during the residency

I plan to visit as many museums and archive collections relating to the Boro fabric traditions. Although there are some documented resources the subject is still relatively uncharted. By visiting the site where the fabrics originated, I hope to gain an insight into local rural life. I am familiar with rural Indian life, having lived and worked closely with textile crafts persons and hope to make parallel comparisons with the personal relationships humans have with cloth - both function and ornament.

Creator Information