Upholstery staff and alumni feature in national exhibition News

The National Centre for Craft and Design is host to a new exhibition entitled Upholstery: Evolution to Revolution.

Date: 1 February 2018

Upholstery: Evolution to Revolution is on at the National Centre for Craft and Design until 15 April 2018. The exhibition explores the evolution and new revolution within the craft of upholstery. It is curated by Jude Dennis and Hannah Stanton, who are both Cass alumni and founders of Second Sitters which promotes independent UK and international upholsterers through publications, exhibitions, collaborative working and education. The work of various Cass Upholstery tutors and alumni feature strongly in the exhibition.

Upholstery: Evolution to Revolution features work from UK based upholsterers who are redefining the traditional preconceived role of the upholsterer, combining traditional craft skills with contemporary thinking. Taking the form of a physical timeline the exhibition maps the changes and developments within the craft to include techniques, materials and upholsterers’ stories. The works included are multidisciplinary; furniture, photography, film and are used to explore activism, social commentary, materiality and the throwaway culture.

Many of the exhibitors have also studied at or teach at The Cass. They include: Miss Pokeno (alumna), Rachael South (Upholstery and Chair Caning Tutor and alumna), Alex Law (Upholstery Tutor), Vanessa Butt (Upholstery Tutor and Technician), Sonia White (alumna), Pia St. John (alumna) and Bettina Langlois aka Bette Noire (alumna).

The exhibition is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Image: RIOT CHAIR by Miss Pokeno