We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art stands and recognise the creative contribution First Australians make to the art and culture of this country.
Artist Tutorials
I believe fashion and design is the gateway to our young people wanting to [preserve] our culture, [just] as I do through my weaving.
Grace Lillian Lee
Designing from Nature
1. Listen to Grace discuss Indigenous fashion and design.
View Julia Mage’au Gray Best foot forward 2011, Ken Thaiday Sr Beizam headdress (Shark with shark jaw) 1991, and Fiona Foley Venus #7 2007 in the Artist’s Gallery. Consider how fashion and performance can be used to tell story.
2. Explore natural patterns and shapes in your backyard or local park. Create your own textile design using paper and pencils, pen or paint that draw inspiration from your observations of natural forms. Ensure that your design fills the entire page.
3. Download and print the garment stencils. Choose one and cut out the shape of the garment.
4. Lay the stencil over the top of your textile design. Move and rotate the stencil to explore the potential of your design, taking photographs as you go.
5. Choose another stencil and repeat Step 4 to build a fashion collection from your design.
6. Reflect on the process. If you had begun by drawing the outline of the stencil, how would your design be different?