Introducing 'STATE OF PLAY' - our handwoven diptych in collaboration with Dying House Gallery from Prato, Italy.
When there are no rules and boundaries, anything is possible! For this project, we wanted to express our individual personalities by using the same beautiful selection of DHG fibers. Before warping the loom, we both scamped our own design, an exercise to not influence or interfere with our personal style. We then shared our "concepts" with each other and collaborated to ensure there was a degree of cohesion between the two.
Lauren wove her panel and Kass wove the other. It is always amusing when close friends and family can tell each panel apart.
Almost like a water-colour painting with playful accents and textural delights. Can you guess which one of us created each panel?

Crossing Threads style & philosophy

Known for their large-scale and highly textural handwoven pieces, the Hernandez sisters seek to emulate the natural forms found in nature. The artists continually draw spiritual inspiration from their surrounding landscapes and personal experiences and are materialised through their abstract designs. 

During this time of COVID-19, the sisters have had more time to practice SAORI weaving, the Japanese art of free-weaving. Using a SAORI loom, the SAORI philosophy encourages self-innovation and embracing intuition. No expectations or judgment and instead, being present in the moment. It is meditative in nature and aims to build a clearer expression of your human self from the process itself, resulting in handwoven cloth. Each thread and hand-cut fabric was carefully considered by the sisters; woven by hand row-by-row. Operated by manual foot pedals, a boat shuttle full of yarn is thrown back and forth to create a calming but efficient weave rhythm. Lauren and Kass aim to put their own mark of texture through SAORI weaving, as well as practice a level of restraint that can be seen as both a form of self-practice and self-compassion. 

This diptych creation was inspired by accepting ‘imperfection’ in ourselves, which is the basic principle of Wabi-Sabi - the Japanese philosophy of accepting your imperfections and making the most of life. “Wabi” is said to be defined as “rustic simplicity” or “understated elegance” with a focus on a less-is-more mentality. “Sabi” is translated to “taking pleasure in the imperfect”.