9 March 2011 - Jackie Langfeld, "Maximising the Miniumum"

"I am inspired by the challenge of interpreting the human form and am intrigued by how the subtle nuances of facial expression and body language can transform a message".

A member of Odyssey textile artists , Jackie originally did her textile degree course at Opus – so the audience knew to expect something out of the ordinary. For her, the creative process, whether drawing, painting or stitching has been a life-long interest and passion. After a brief intro to her early textile life, she began to offer more information about the work she has recently completed entitled "Straw Dogs, Paper Warriors".

Jackie Langfeld - Paper Warrior I (Study)
Life size figurative sculpture
Willow, cardboard, garden twine, paper cording, steel

She had begun just playing around with bits of cardboard, manipulating them and painting them before stitching. Liking the way they turned out and feeling they had a "life" of their own she found they grew in size and eventually she decided she wanted to work on something life size. Created from metal, recycled cardboard, willow, paper cording, and garden twine she found it quite a challenge to answer the question of how they would stay firmly upright (a steel framework hidden inside the figures was the eventual answer). There is little colour to them as they are mainly constructed in neutral shades, but there is a lot of texture to the way their “armour” is tied and twisted together.

Jackie Langfeld - Paper Warrior II (Study)
Life size figurative sculpture
Willow, cardboard, garden twine, paper cording, steel

At first viewing these life-size warriors seemed strange and haunting – somehow a group of bodies without faces. I liked them, but could understand how some people found them to be eerie – especially when displayed at the top of a high staircase looking down into the foyer.

Jackie had bought sketchbooks and that's something that a lot of us just love looking through. You could see the early seeds of the warriors in some of her earlier pieces of tied and manipulated work.

Totally different was Jackie’s work of delicate broken china tea cups and saucers which were "crocheted" back together again, and a series of ladies dressed in crinoline's and made of calico, feminine floral print, tissue and running stitch.

Jackie Langfeld - Holding On - Loving No Less
Ceramic, handmade paper, paper cord
Life size

A very interesting talk, well delivered and illustrated. I will definitely look out for her work at exhibitions.