Meet The New Quilt Artist: Sophie Conolly

Sophie uses techniques that have ‘women’s work’ connotations - sewing, embroidery, papier mâché - the type of work which has been performed quietly, meditatively and often privately by women over centuries, primarily to mend and repair. This is how she works - quietly and privately - and as the process has evolved, personal themes have emerged: of childhood innocence, loss, remembrance and mourning.

The art making process has been slow, careful and largely unconscious - the work comes from a deep place inside her that is asking for a little love and light to be shined on to it – ‘to be seen’.

This work is focussed on the moment in Sophie's childhood that had such a huge impact on the rest of her life: the death of her father when she was 13, a traumatic event that was left unaddressed until many years later.

When her father died Sophie was at boarding school in England. After he died the sense of isolation was profound. She also felt abandoned and rejected by her French mother. Creating this quilt from her mother’s prized collection of precious 'papiers d’agrumes’* has been a cathartic experience. The light shining above is a replica of her soft toy ‘seal’ which was a great source of comfort at the time.

The materials Sophie choose are invariably ones that hold familiarity and from which she can draw comfort as she simultaneously work out confronting themes. Tea paper in particular is a recurring material.

In essence, Sophie is stitching to repair and connect the past to the present, the good memories with the bad. The artmaking process has allowed her to say good bye, to give herself permission to grieve and to strengthen her sense of self.

*Vintage (1950s-1980s) French papiers d’agrumes (printed tissue paper). Wrapped oranges were commonplace in France during the 1950s-60s, but are now a rare find - seen as disposable, most were destroyed.

Name of artwork: Tuck Me In

Sophie Conolly online: Website  Facebook  Instagram

The New Quilt, on exhibition at Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, Windsor, NSW from 5 February – 11 April 2021. 

Gallery hours: Open 6 days a week Monday, Wednesday-Friday 10am-4pm Saturday-Sunday 10am-3pm. Closed on Tuesday and public holidays.