Anji Archer

 

 

 Anji trained in Constructed Textiles specialising in traditional woven tapestry at MiddlesexUniversity and graduated in 1992. A few years later Anji studied for a MA in Art & Media practice at the University of Westminster using Installation, mixed media and textiles as her core focus on the course.

 ‘I work with mixed art forms, researching different ways of using discarded and given materials.  I have discovered that objects form an important role within the sculptures/installations that I create, whether they are designed for a gallery or are site specific.  My work largely focuses on installation pieces, and is an on-going pursuit of a self-discovering language consisting of factual or fictional stories including elements of observations of everyday life.  Sometimes this involves researching into the historical background of the environment in which the work is placed.’

Anji has always had an interest in Textiles extending from her teenage years when she used to experiment with clothes and fabrics. Whilst at college and University Anji became an avid collector of fabrics, clothes, bags and pieces of cloth that have caught her eye and that she has been able to use within her work.

‘ I’m also very interested in the historical aspect of the fabrics and objects that I collect. By altering or adorning them, attaching or adjusting them adds another dimension to the existing narrative of the piece of work that I produce.’

Anji also works in Art and Community education and is currently working for Stevenage Educational Trust as Festival of Writing Coordinator, supporting Stevenage schools and local community groups.

Anji’s background over the past twenty years has involved working in schools and with various groups often using textiles as an emphasis for a workshop or project.

Anji was introduced to the Threads of Time initiative whilst working on a project at Stevenage museum.

‘I remember seeing the image of the lace collar advertising the project and thinking that I would like to know more about the Wittewronge archive collection.’

About my Piece

My puppet art piece ‘Maid of all things’ was inspired by Domestic life during the Wittewronge era at their family home in Rothamsted Manor, Harpenden.

Although historically there is little evidence of how servants lived during that period, I decided to create my own story inspired by objects and other archive material from the Wittewronge collection i.e. some receipts for goods found from the house that were used during the early part of last century.

I have always had an interest in working class life and how people from this class system survived by working in very difficult circumstances.

The puppet has been hand and machine sewn and is made from mixed materials including felt, cotton and ribbon. The clothes are contemporary based upon a female’s 1600’s servants’ costume i.e. the head is made to represent the headdress that they would have worn during that time period.

The apron has been machined sewn using vanishing muslin, lace, pieces of cloth and extracts from a book.

Email:anjiarcher@hotmail.com

Web site: http://www.axisweb.org/p/anjiarcher/#artwork