Rezia Wahid

My work, for me is a subtle and progressive process. It is about stepping outside the boundaries of art and craft, the traditional and the contemporary. I like to merge fine art concepts within the craft of weaving; what is worn and what is hung for display. My work explores light and air, the beauty of Islam and the traditions of Islamic art, British countryside, the Jamdhani craft of Bangladesh, travels opening up my spiritual, intellectual, conceptual, visual and artistic understanding. The freedom of cloth is very important to me. I see the loom as a piano on which I create the harmonies of warp and weft, the shades of white, the unfinished edges, the softness of natural fibres and coloured selvedge’s. I'd like people to look beyond the delicate cloths and to feel peace, tranquillity and be inspired to also wear, feel, touch as well as dance with them! I am passionately interested in promoting the craft of weaving in a conceptual, innovative and elegant manner. My teaching as a part time secondary art teacher, recent workshops, commissions and involvement with craft and cultures of Britain has given me unique experiences and great ambition to collaborate with other artists such as dancers, musicians as well as actors in a unique groundbreaking manner. As a weaver, Bangladeshi born muslim and a British maker who has a diverse background I have worked with a wide range of people, communities and contemporary audiences. london