Maia MacGilp

The concept of "Hidden Worlds" began when I was a child. When overwhelmed, I would seek escape from the outside world and focus on tiny details in my surroundings. Nature is full of hidden minuscule communities; bugs climb through blades of grass which to them are as tall as trees. Whilst observing them my imagination would run wild, I would picture myself being tiny and experiencing the world from a new perspective. I remain fascinated by beauty hidden in areas we normally overlook.

I focused on imagery of moss, as I am fascinated by the hidden layers, structures and textures it contains. I collected samples and looked at them under a microscope, revealing unseen details. I decided to tell my story through quilting, I was inspired by The Quilts of Gees Bend which communicate stories of African American workers and their ancestors. They document the hardships they endured, using old workwear to create beautiful contemporary quilt designs. Each panel of my quilt is hand printed, it was important to convey the fluid, delicate and exciting marks that I have extracted from my imagery. I worked closely with colour, making sure to match my palette to the natural source it is drawn from while creating a calming, dream-like mood. This work stems from the idea of escaping into imaginary worlds, from the chaos of modern society. My aim is to create work for interior spaces, which makes people feel calm and safe, possibly encouraging them to look out for "hidden worlds" themselves.