Unexpected materials have been used by artists for the latest Turner Contemporary exhibition.

Forty female artists took a different look at textiles, tapestry and jewellery for Entangled: Threads and Making, which explores the different mediums from the early 20th century to the present day.

Their work is aimed as expanding the possibilities of knitting and embroidery, using at times clothing, hair and bird quills.

Curated by writer and critic Karen Wright, with Turner Contemporary, it came about through her work for the Independent’s In the Studio column, when she watched artists first hand.

One of her main inspirations was the work of renowned American artist Kiki Smith, who was working on her epic tapestry Sky (2012), which is included in the exhibition.

Artists from different generations and cultures challenge established categories of craft, design and fine art, and who share a fascination with the handmade and the processes themselves come together for the exhibition, which opens on Saturday, January 28.

It includes many new works produced especially for the exhibition and others, such as Hannah Ryggen’s large scale political tapestry, which have not been exhibited in the UK before.

A SECOND HELPING OF TURNER

Also opening on the same day as Threads, is another exhibition of JMW Turner’s works.

A selection of etchings and mezzotints will go on show, taken from Turner’s Liber Studiorum, a series of 70 landscape engravings published in 14 parts between 1807 and 1819.

The Liber Studiorum – or Book of Studies – absorbed the artist for more than 20 years and has been described as one of his greatest achievements.

He intended the book to be used as a manual for the aspiring landscape painter and was studied by John Constable as well as other artists of the day, helping to raise the status of landscape painting in the early 19th century.

The last Turner exhibition, JMW Turner: Adventures in Colour clocked up more than 100,000 visitors.

It had a total of 106,656 visits, making it the most highly visited autumn show since the gallery’s first year of operation.

It brought together 149 artworks and objects and also saw more than 2600 children and young people take part in related learning programmes. John Akomfrah’s Vertigo Sea was also presented alongside JMW Turner’s work.

DETAILS

Entangled: Threads and Making runs at the Turner from Saturday, January 28 to Sunday, May 7.

Liber Studiorum, JMW Turner also runs from Saturday, January 28 to Sunday, May 7.
The gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm and is free.

For details go to turnercontemporary.org