Multidisciplinary artist Daisy Tortuga rethinks the standard carpet
"The earliest memory of being creative is making clothes for my cats," says Daisy Tortuga. The multidisciplinary artist grew up at a young age in the coastal town of Deal, Kent, and was actively encouraged by her parents to experiment with creative activities such as painting, sewing, knitting, clay modeling, and more.
“I think there is something special about small coastal towns and I am so happy to have grown up in these surroundings. As an only child, I lived more in my own imaginary world where things made sense. This is where I collected all of my little items and colored the world from my own perspective, ”adds Tortuga.
Today, Tortuga's work is downright nostalgic and based on the way she viewed the world as a child. Since studying illustration in Kingston, her practice has focused on using found objects and crafts to make statements, and is expressed in media ranging from writing to wax sculpture.
Tortuga still sees herself as an illustrator, even if she uses materials that are traditionally not associated with the discipline. It's not surprising, then, that she cites outsider artists like Henry Darger, Bill Traylor and Vivian Maier as some of her greatest creative influences.
“I'm interested in these people because they worked alone for the sheer joy of working. It's so nice for me to see the core values of creativity without the obstacle of popularity,” she says.
While carpets have been a part of Tortuga's practice since she was at university, it was only last year that she fell in love with the process of making carpets. “I used to sew, applique, and bead a lot to take pictures, and carpets are a continuation of that,” she explains.
“People seem to be excited about the process and drawn to the tactile quality of the work. The process feels pretty new too; The Tufting Gun Tool seems to have led to something of a renaissance in carpet making, making it possible for more and more people to make textiles. "
Over the past 12 months, the popularity of Tortuga's playful, pop-culture rug designs has led to collaborations with everyone from adidas and Nando to the sustainable trainer brand Saye.
However, her most popular collaboration to date has been an ongoing project with other artists including Rachel Hodgson, Katy Daft and Nina Kersy. "I send the artist a piece of backing and they hand draw the design, post it back, and I make a rug out of it," she explains.
“When choosing colors, I have the freedom to reinterpret the original image. I find it really exciting to work this way, especially at a time when we can't go out and meet new people or see work in real life. "
While making carpets is her first love for the time being, Tortuga would like to continue exploring other ways of textile design in the future – be it clothing or ceramics.
“My hope for my career is that I can continue to work with creative flexibility and get away from my job without being completely tied to carpet manufacturing,” she says. "I hope people will recognize my style and see that style in other processes."
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