With a long list of exhibitions on her CV, Meredith is well known with art fanatics in the Australian and London art scene. Gynosome thinks it’s the perfect time to introduce the sensititve works of Woolnough to our readers.

 

Meredith Woolnough is a self depicted Visual Artist. Using knotted threads Meredith aims to capture the beauty and fragility of nature with her embroidered traceries. Delicate in nature and design, the Australian artist’s pieces are subtle and delicate in a world full of garish works. The sculptures are enough to gaze at alone, but cast against light within the right gallery cast dynamic shadow art.

We chatted to Meredith about her inspirations, nature and advice for all young women and artists.

 

GYNOSOME: Your work presents nature in art form, growing up in Australia you must have been exposed to nature from a young age, but how did you get into art?

 

Meredith: I have always loved creating and making and even from a young age I have had a love for art. Art was always my favourite subject throughout school so it was no surprise that I jumped straight into an art degree after high school to pursue that passion further. I have been lucky enough to have an art filled life ever since. I taught art and design in schools for several years before pursuing my own art practice full time.

 

GYNOSOME: How did you come about your process of embroidered traceries?

 

Meredith: The embroidery technique that I use was something that I focused on during my honours year at uni. I was drawn to the process because I saw it as a very sculptural way to work with embroidery and that it had lots of possibilities just waiting to be explored. I spent the year working with the process and developing ways to make it work for me. I still love the technique and I am trying to continually push its limits.

 

GYNOSOME: What other artists influence or inspire you?

 

Meredith: There are plenty of artists that inspire me. To name just a few I love the work of: Andy Goldsworthy, Bronwyn Oliver, Michelle McKinney and Kate MccGwire. You will notice that none of these artists are textiles based but I am sure you will be able to see how they influence me when you see their work. 

 

GYNOSOME: Why is nature important to you?

 

Meredith: Probably because it is everything to us, it is life. I have always found that you don’t need to go far to find natural beauty and I find endless inspiration in natural forms more so than anything that is man made.

 

GYNOSOME: What’s been the proudest moment in your artistic career?

Meredith: That’s a tricky one, there have been lots of moments in my career that have been landmarks but I don’t know if I could pick just one. My first solo show was a big deal and a pretty major point in my career, it made me realise that I could actually make this crazy idea of ‘being an artist’ work. Winning awards or having my work purchased by major galleries or collections are real ‘pinch me’ moments as well.

 

GYNOSOME: What does the future hold for you?

 

Meredith: Honestly, I don’t know. I feel very blessed to be able to make a living out of creating art and I can only hope that I am able to keep doing what I am doing. Ideally I would like the opportunity to take my work to a larger audience, showing my work overseas is a long term goal for me.

 

GYNOSOME: If you could give one piece of advice to anyone what would it be?

Meredith: Always be nice to people.