MARIA-THERESA FERNANDES

BIOGRAPHY

TRAVEL HAS BEEN A LARGE PART OF THE LIFE AND WORK OF THE ARTIST. THESE EXPERIENCES OF TRAVEL HAVE ALLOWED FOR DIVERSE SOCIETAL MORES, WHICH OVER TIME HAVE FOUND THEIR WAY INTO A NUMBER OF WORKS.

THE INTEREST IN ART DEVELOPED AT AN EARLY STAGE. THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES OF KENYA AND THE UK INFLUENCED THE WORK IN THE EARLY 60'S AND 70’S. THE MOVE TO THE UK, LONDON, IN THE MID-SIXTIES TO STUDY ART WAS A PRIVILEGE . I SWITCHED TO EMBROIDERY AS THE MAIN DISCIPLINE WHILE AT ART COLLEGE IN MANCHESTER,UK. LONDON WAS A VERY EXCITING CITY IN THE 6Os WITH THE AMAZING FASHIONS, THE BEATLES, ETC…

EMBROIDERY AS A FORM OF ART WAS FROWNED UPON AT THE TIME AND IT HAS TAKEN A LONG TIME FOR THIS CRAFT TO BE CONSIDERED AS AN ART FORM.  EARLIER WORK WAS ENCRUSTED WITH STITCH INCORPORATING PAINTING THUS CAUSING ONE CRITIC TO COMMENT THAT IT WAS NOT EMBROIDERY AT AN EXHIBITION AT THE COMMONWEALTH  ART GALLERY IN LONDON. OVER THE YEARS THE WORK HAS EVOLVED AND DEVELOPED USING NEW TECHNOLOGY AND METHODS OF WORKING. THE WORK IS PROCESS ORIENTATED OFTEN TAKING SEVERAL MONTHS TO COMPLETE. DURING THE LATE 80’S AND 90'S TRAVEL TO EGYPT, MOROCCO, TURKEY, INDIA HAD A PROFOUND INFLUENCE IN THE WORK. PROJECTS CONNECTED TO INATE INDIAN CULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS I.E. “DOWRY BRIDES” SERIES IN 2000. POLITICAL COMMENTARY AND WORLD VIEWS ON CULTURE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE AS WELL AS CAUSES OF THE MARGINALIZED IS AN IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THE WORK. TRAVEL HAS GIVEN THE ARTIST THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT AND CREATE WORKS RELATING TO THE SURROUNDINGS OF THE COUNTRIES FELT AND EXPERIENCED.