'My first textile piece,"Clustering Thoughts", has allowed me to work with a medium that has sparked my curiosity for a while. I believe in the power of colour, the power of thought and the will to express and converse through any medium that spurs you into conversation, whether that be with yourself, your surroundings, or the people around you.' —Jadé Fadojutimi
Clustering Thoughts is a formative work that exemplifies Jadé Fadojutimi’s nascent transverse into the practice of textile. Layers of ribbon and fabric create an emotive ensemble that exudes chaos through abstract bold colours and textures conjuring the senses. The immersive environment responds to Fadojutimi’s painting practice where rhythmic layers of saturated colour are established by gestural brushstrokes. Seemingly similar visual environments are contrasting in their outcome through their differing processes– the act of painting is dynamic whereas needlework requires increased patience. Clustering Thoughts is inspired by concepts of identity and its construction, heightened by the artistic process. Fadojutimi calls on this quite literally by using the needle and thread to create the work. Her meditation on individual liberation is evoked using textile– a practice that was traditionally viewed as an undervalued feminine craft. Her work challenges this gendered stereotype and brings new meaning to the importance of this medium by incorporating it into fine art. The present work was conceived and executed to raise funds for creating safe spaces for women and girls, providing empowerment for the voiceless.
