Platform Arts presents an exhibition by textile artist Samantha Thompson:
Creeping out of nooks, hanging from the ceiling, and generally up to no good, these band of misfit sea creatures are made to interact and play with internal rooms. The invasion is an immersive universe filled with stuffed textile works, some of which resemble hybrid of creatures we find in our oceans. Utilising the massive amount of textile waste found in second hand shops, these creatures are hand sown, stuffed and adorned with pom poms, sequences, and clay spikes. On the surface of the creatures feature human faces, often embroidered, and painted, almost as if reflecting out own faces, like a mirror.
Like a fish out of water, these strangely alluring personalities create an opportunity to witness what we normally don't see under the ocean. There is an environmental impact created by humans that directly affects the creatures in the oceans, and the textile fast fashion industry is a major player. The upcycled and textile nature of these works are a not too subtle play on this dynamic.