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Written by Sophie Holt.
In support of new, emerging talent, each year our resident makers hand pick promising ‘Future Makers’ to showcase their work here at Manchester Craft and Design Centre. These new designers are either currently studying, recent graduates or newly emerging and this opportunity will bring their beautiful work into the spotlight. This year we have a total of seven Future Makers, all with their own unique craft, working with different processes and materials.
Freja Burgess, a recent graduate of BA Textiles in Practice at Manchester School of Art, is one of the seven promising new designers selected to feature in the Future Makers 2018 exhibition. Her unique textile work has been hand picked by Andrea Lord (&Made) to feature in her studio here at MCDC. Freja’s practice revolves around the inherent tactility and versatility of fabric as a medium, in addition to making the beauty of art a part of our everyday lives. Colour is also central to Freja’s practice and she is fascinated by the influence that colour has on human emotion. Freja also aims to bypass current trends or fashionable styles within her textile piece, in order to make work that stands the test of time. She believes this is important within her design practice in order to combat today’s disposable society, promoting a greater appreciation for quality materials and processes. Her work is strikingly designed and effectively features vibrant, mostly primary colours. The abstract textile pieces combine both functional uses for the everyday and effective, highly visual design.
Image Credit: Freja Burgess
Image Credit: Freja Burgess
Image Credit: Freja Burgess
We asked Freja a few questions to discover more about her and her practice:
1.) So Freja, out of hundreds of 2017 graduates and emerging talent you have been selected by us. How do you feel about being chosen for Future Makers 2018?
I’m delighted to have been chosen as it’s such a great opportunity to exhibit my work for others to see. It already feels like a long time ago that I was studying and producing the printed textiles that I’ll be exhibiting, so it’s a super surprise to now be able to present the work to a new audience. With creative work, when its such a personal outcome, it can be too easy to feel dejected by a lack of success. So its encouraging to know that there are still opportunities that can arise months after first exhibiting your work!
2.) What are the things that have inspired, and continue to inspire, your work?
I love to observe what’s around me and draw anything that I find particularly intriguing! More often than not, these tend to be fascinating things I’ve found whilst going out for walks in the countryside. The brilliant, natural colours and beautiful, varied textures and shapes that exist in the natural environment will always amaze me and provide boundless inspiration for my creative work.
3.) Is there any advice you would give to artists and makers who are starting out?
Yes, I would encourage them to take the opportunities that come their way because even if they know it’s not something they’d want to do forever. I’ve undertaken internships that I haven’t really been inspired by, but still feel they’ve been useful as they’ve made me realise that its not something I want to pursue (which is important too!). These experiences can just help to clarify the direction you want to take your own work in and might lead to further opportunities by speaking to inspiring people and by being involved with creative projects.
4.) What is your dream project?
I would love to design and screen print fabric to upholster furniture inside my own cafe that I wish to open (as baking is my other hobby!).
Image Credit: Freja Burgess
Image Credit: Freja Burgess
Image Credit: Freja Burgess