Velvet

“Vel-vet: The word Velvet is very like the mouth itself: vaulted cavern overarching well muscled tongue, liquescent flesh enclosing bony ridge of teeth. In pronouncing the word, the front teeth rest gently against the lower lip; the breath tingles as it escapes, sparking and popping within the mouth like a gas flame. At midpoint, the lips open in surprise, then retract quickly to their original position to revoice the V. The final T brings tongue and palette together in a snapping motion, analogous, perhaps, to the scrunch of pile against skin as silk velvet envelops the body. A curious enunciation of consonants, this word: the E’s languish within the hollow of the throat while defining V’s and final T rush to the fore like flashing swords. Velvet: at once noun and adjective, object and quality. Velvet: an unequivocal sign of voluptuousness  

Laura Vickerson’s site-specific installation Velvet comprises two immense curtains diapered with a mass of blood red rose petals. Originating from tiny points fixed high on the end wall of the Illingworth Kerr Gallery, the textiles cascade, break out and flow out across the floor with the inexorability of a cresting river. Suggestive of banners, prodigal hair or streams of blood, Velvet is at once image, articulated space, and monument—to community, labour, and the positivity of art making. It’s apparent simplicity lures one into false confidence of easy understanding. Its richness, however, rewards hors of contemplation. It both is, and is not, exactly what is seems.” - Excerpt taken from Exhibition Catalogue, written by Amy Gogarty