Basketry: Making Human Nature
8th Feb 2011 - 22nd May 2011
Basketry: Making Human Nature brings together traditional and contemporary basketry from Western Amazonia, North America, Oceania, Africa, Japan, South-East Asia and Europe. The exhibition reveals the extraordinary uses of basketry technology and asks us to consider its place in human culture.
 Tetrahedron, 2003Joanna Gilmour |
 Kalang basketsLembudd, Kerayan Highlands, Indonesia |
 Boiler Suit - Facade of Guy�s Hospital Boiler roomThomas Heatherwick |
 Double bee skep, 1932Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service (Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse) |
 Millennium Picnic Basket, 1999Lois Walpole |
 MaskSalampasu |
Amongst the works are stunning shields from North East Congo and the Solomon Islands, fish traps from Cameroon, Ghana and Thailand, a colourful gorget from the Society Islands, Egyptian shoes, masks from the Salampasu of Angola and baskets from across the globe. The exhibition also includes large-scale basketry such as a reed boat from Lake Titicaca in Peru, a fishing weir from Papua New Guinea and a woven architectural wall panel from Guy's Hospital in London by artist Thomas Heatherwick.
Spectacular contemporary art and design by leading artists including Mary Butcher, Ueno Masao and Lois Walpole will be on display. The exhibition will also feature new commissions and works by artists responding to the gallery spaces and the themes in the exhibition, and showing how basketry is being utilised today.
You will see many weaving techniques that have been used to create designs ranging from simple geometric herringbone twill to the most complex sculptural forms. The works are made from a surprising variety of materials including traditional willow and cane, wire and recycled plastic. Other objects show the application of basketry designs for ceramics, glassware and caving.
An illustrated catalogue to accompany the exhibition is available from the Sainsbury Centre Gallery Shop.
Basketry: Making Human Nature is a Sainsbury Institute for Art project and has been developed by the Sainsbury Centre and the School of World Art Studies and Museology at the University of East Anglia. The exhibition has been curated by Professor Sandy Heslop.
Spring exhibition admission �4, concessions �2; family admission �8, concessions �6; school groups �1 per person. Free to Sainsbury Centre Friends, UEA and NUCA staff and students.
