Jennifer’s woven textiles practice centers on her response to colour, light and tonal gradation. Born in Curitiba, Brazil, Jennifer Shellard’s weaving references the vibrancy of her childhood. Years spent in Rio de Janeiro left a lifelong impression on her: the hot, humid chaos of the vibrant tropical city and the clamour and extravagance of Mardi Gras. The incessant rhythms, bejewelled and spangled costumes, the excitement and creativity of the spectacle live on in her woven scarves, in which jewel tones dance across the surface in electric geometric patterns. She is generally drawn to composition rather than repeat pattern, so to some degree work evolves on the loom since colour interaction of warp and weft cannot be accurately predicted. Exquisitely hand-woven in silk, the scarves’ materials and colours bring back the vibrancy and lustre of the natural world which inspires her.
Jennifer also developed minimal light-based installations in which time-based colour/light projection or integrated U.V lights create illusionistic effects for architectural interiors and exhibitions.
