The first in a series of Europe House Talks organised by the European Parliament’s office in London featuring leading writers and artists discussing issues of contemporary interest with a European focus.
The discussion will be chaired by Tanya Harrod, who writes on art craft and design, and touch upon the importance of roots and the possibility of new freedoms acquired when one journeys away. This event anticipates London Craft Week, from 4-10 October at various venues around London.
The Artists
Alison Britton is a ceramic artist with an international reputation. Along with Elizabeth Fritsch, Carol McNicoll and Jacqueline Poncelet she graduated from the Royal College of Art in the early 1970s. She has done much to establish the vessel as an abstract art form bringing together sculpture and painting.
Nico Conti from Malta is a recent graduate of the RCA who has a “rigorous yet playful approach to experiment he has found new ways to express his ideas. His interest is to find a personal language in clay that uses both analogue and digital technologies in its expression, thinking through process and material, to create some very particular work, with unique qualities….”
Jochen Holz originally trained in lamp working in Germany before studying glass at Edinburgh College of Art and the RCA. After graduating in 2003 Jochen established his studio in East London. His approach to design is guided by the lampworking process and the flowing forms of hot glass.
Fadhel Mourali is a hand weaver and textile artist with roots in Sweden and Tunisia who seeks to re-contextualise the universal values of handicraft in a contemporary context. He recently graduated from Central St Martins.
Ismini Samanidou was the first weaver-in-residence at the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation. Born in Athens, her practice crosses the boundaries of art, craft and design with work developed for exhibitions, industry collaborations and site specific commissions. She works with weaving, drawing and photography.
Picture Credit: (c) Isimi Samanidou | The Revenge of Arachni
Installation in the form of a web made of silk thread set in a disused enamel factory on the island of Kea, Greece. Referencing the Greek myth of Arachni which tells the story of the maiden talented in the art of weaving, who was condemned when challenging the goddess Athena in this art.
RSVP Essential: jeremy.osullivan@europarl.
