Using reclaimed military parachutes
While researching ways that others have experimented with this fabric as a medium I discovered Canopy Collection, the result of a collab between Benjamin Hubert and RÆBURN, a design company that focuses on sustainability and innovation.
I really love the wrapping and layering on the screen. It lets the fabric speak for itself. These strip seams are characteristic of parachute materials, born from their method of assembly. There’s a beautiful quality in that, an intricate geometry that reminds me of insect wings: fragile yet engineered for survival.
I’ve sourced some green parachute fabric from the army and navy surplus store, Anchor Supplies, and I’ll be collecting it soon to experiment.
I’m excited to explore how military materials can be recontextualised in artworks that examine modern genocide and geopolitical atrocity.
Reworking my inflatable piece for light night using this material feels like an ideal development. Using this fabric feels like a way to engage in the above themes with nuance and care. To invite conversation without too much telling.
