SHARYN DENYER


I have been fascinated and passionate about textiles since I first saw the dye works in Fez, Morocco in 1974.
We returned to Australia in 1975 after travelling extensively in Europe and the United Kingdom and moved back onto the land "sheep farming".
I subsequently completed a course at the Melbourne College of Textiles in Melbourne. I developed my skills in spinning, dyeing and weaving.
We then had the opportunity to live and work with the Kurdish people of Northern Iraq for two years on an Agricultural Project. I was able to extend my weaving expertise, collect textiles and I was introduced to traditional feltmaking.
Returning to Australia and back onto the land I met Anne Marie Power who was the artist in residence at Hamilton and she taught me the skills of feltmaking.
My first introduction to Chinese textiles was at the Expo in Brisbane in 1988 where I purchased a wonderful, rich Chinese embroidery and raw silk.
I now use Chinese raw silk extensively in my feltmaking work.
I have had the opportunity to travel in Asia to Bali, Singapore, Hong Kong and Southern China and observed and collected textiles.
My partner Tony has been travelling to China for the last three years and is presently based in Hong Kong.
I will take up residence in Hong Kong in 2003.
My own feltmaking work has focussed on connections to the land and a sense of place in relation to our environment.
I am very keen to travel to Hangzhou and Shanghai to observe and explore the landscape focussing on the people and their connections with the land and their sense of place in both traditional and contemporary aspects.