One of the things that attracts me to Marquetry is the material itself. Working in wood has so many possibilities and connotations. I like the idea of connecting with nature through its use. As a starting point this seems more appropriate for me than beginning by trying to simply apply techniques to my work without considering just what Marquetry is conceptually.
The aesthetic appeal of a Marquetry picture is something I personally find difficult and the types of images produced in the main by Marquetarians would certainly not to be everyones taste. There is a kitsch quality to much of the work I have experienced in the past but I think this has more to do with subject matter than anything. Inevitably questions of taste and indeed fashion are part of this and considering the history and traditional uses of Marquetry how this sits with a more modern aesthetic can be a challenge. I will try to think more about this as I progress.
What I don't want to do in this project is to criticise the use of the craft in the world of Marquetry; which is incidently a very thriving global community. The UK Marquetry Society was founded in 1952, affiliated to it are many local groups throughout the country. The Staffordshire group, whom I am connecting with during this project are one of these and can lay claim some very talented members. The group also has an excellent website. Links below
http://www.staffsmarq.freeserve.co.uk/
If anyone would like to contact me regarding the project please get in contact [email protected]
