The history of tapestry features quite striking examples of works made by historical companies and designed by architects, painters and sculptors. But a large tapestry designed by a painter, made by a historical company and inspired by an opera was something still unheard of, at least until yesterday.
Commissioned by Scottish Opera as an artwork for the new foyer of the Theatre Royal in Glasgow, designed by Alison Watt, better known for her paintings of swirling fabrics and materials creating deep chasms, and made by a team led by Master Weaver Naomi Robertson at Dovecot Studios (an Edinburgh-based tapestry company that worked in the past on creative projects with painters, printmakers and sculptors such as Henry Moore, Frank Stella, Elizabeth Blackadder and Peter Blake), the tapestry was unveiled yesterday.
The project, dedicated to Madama Butterfly, was launched in January last year when a palette of colours was chosen, together with suitable technique for the weaving. Samples were then made, but weaving began last August. A "cutting of" ceremony, held yesterday at Dovecot, finally marked the completion of the tapestry: the warp threads were cut by Alastair Salvesen, Chairman of Dovecot Studios and Elizabeth Salvesen, Company Director of Dovecot Studios, and by Alison Watt among the others.
The tapestry with its yellow and gold tones melting into pinks, mauves and reds - unusual shades for Watt who is more famous for her neutral tones - was inspired by a silk obi shown to Watt by Scottish Opera Head of Costume, John Liddell.
On the Dovecot Studios site Watt described the tapestry as "an emotional landscape" referencing the dramatic story of Cio-Cio San, the central character to Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly - Scottish Opera's inaugural performance and the first opera that will be staged in the new theatre.
There is something architectural about the tapestry since the painter conceived it as a vertical piece: hanging over three floors in the new foyer of the Theatre Royal in Glasgow (the extension is due to open in the summer) the tapestry will be seen by visitors from each level of the building.
The design was particularly challenging as the tapestry is rather large (5.6 x 4.2 metres) and was therefore made mixing subtle colours and tones and employing hundreds of bobbins. Art and craft combine in this tapestry that will hopefully also help revamping the interest of the younger generations for the opera.
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