Material World

A monograph on Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos, focusing on her extraordinary work with textiles

Joana Vasconcelos has become one the most respected and sought-after artists of the 21st century. Her forte is using non-traditional materials, and particularly textiles, to create monumental and expansive works that intrigue, inspire and entertain the viewer. She first rose to acclaim when her chandelier decorated with tampons was exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 2005, and has since had solo exhibitions at Versailles and Manchester Art Gallery. She aims to re-present and subvert every-day objects, often manipulating scale and form, and is specially interested in the role of women and objects associated with them. This book focuses on her extraordinary works in textiles, and highlights in particular her ‘Valkyries’ series, vibrant patchwork extravaganzas that weave together knitting and crochet with silk, velvets, recycled clothes and industrially produced textiles embellished with Portuguese tassels, crystals and beads. Essays by Enrique Juncosa and Crispin Sartwell offer thoughtful and in-depth overviews of her work and its development over the past fourteen years.