Source work:
0806/85
Roger Fry (1866-1934)
Still Life with Omega Flowers
1919
Oil on canvas
Omega Bowl with an African Twist - Annette McMaster
Annette McMaster (b.1948)
Omega Bowl with an African Twist
Fibre art: paper, textile, wool, embroidery
R8 000 (excluding stand)
It would be pretentious to state that I had made the bowl with all kinds of symbolic references, e.g. "vessels being symbols of womanhood", in mind.
For purely practical reasons I realised that another wall hanging was not an option. I glibly borrowed a beautifully shaped form from Sue Physick, but no matter how I tried I could not get the machine embroidered panels to fit the paper mache base. The creative process was in charge and I could not force anything.
Mark McMaster helped in constructing a hexagon with extensions radiating from it. One of the Omega flower shapes presented itself when after construction the "wings" were overlapped and stapled together.
I knew little about Roger Fry and the Bloomsbury Group. On doing a little research, I realized that energies and forces present themselves to us when we are open to them. I subconsciously chose a paper base to work on. The bowl's eventual shape was definitely more suited to the machine embroidery. I have often included mirrors in work - they are seen as protection against the evil eye. Other processes were used for practical purposes.
I want to thank the Gallery for the opportunity to be part of this process. It was inspiring, challenging, frustrating and exhilarating.