Although I have been aware of Susie Vickery’s personal embroidery work for a while, I only recently learnt about her development work when I spoke to Jude van der Merwe of the Indian Ocean Craft Triennial. I enjoyed this conversation with Susie – she is a multitalented artist who is having a lot of fun with her work.
From the West End to the Himalayas
We start the conversation with Susie telling us about her career in London as a costume designer and maker on the West End in London before she moved with her husband to Asia. There they first lived in Nepal, and later in Tibet and Mumbai where she was involved in craft development work for different groups and organisations.
Susie with her friends in Tibet
Stop-motion Stitching
Susie explains how her personal art practice developed alongside her community work and how the two influenced and informed each other. She talks about her study and research into sweatshops, both historical and modern-day. She describes how she turns her embroidery into stop-motion animation and videos.
Sweatshop animation
Citizen Botanist
Susie’s theatre background, her toymaking experience in Tibet, and her sense of fun culminated in her creating puppets with their own travel stories and adventures. She tells us about the Botanist and his interesting life.
Citizen Botanist planning his next adventure
At IOTA21
The Curious Five Goes Surfing is an immersive installation Susie presented at the Indian Ocean Craft Triennial in Perth, Western Australia. She shares the story behind it and tells us how it came together.
The Curious Five Goes Surfing installation at IOTA21
Home Sweet Home
After travelling the world for many years, Susie is now based back in her hometown, Perth where is again involved with community group projects. This time with indigenous as well as migrant groups. She shares some of the emotional stories they get to express with textiles and sewing.
Link: Community Arts Network: https://www.can.org.au/
Fremantle Arts Centre: https://www.fac.org.au/
A project Susie worked on with the Langford Aboriginal Association. On display at the Fremantle Arts Centre
Susie Vickery
NO COMMENT