Fiona Fessey

BA (Hons) Illustration

Fiona Fessey

I have explored the term multi-generational through portraiture and textiles. I think that it is important to relate to all generations of families, in particular, the elderly. My project focuses on my grandmother’s life.

I have delivered the anecdotes which I can recall when growing up in my grandmother’s company. Her stories are interesting and funny, they have given my project life. Each of the titles and stories are expressed in the dolls which are also a representative of femininity. Femininity is a distinct part of my project, I have been researching wartime articles which state that women found substitutes for make-up as though it is innately in us to look beautiful. I have focussed on the tea stained legs idea, bridal gowns made by my grandmother and love stories.

The intention of this project is to achieve a sense of memory and nostalgia through the playful aesthetic of the dolls. The dolls are made from canvas and paint, each doll carries a story from my grandmothers life. My art is fun to make and very experimental, I enjoy using varied media. Textiles and fabric are malleable and easy to work with. Dorethea Tanning is one of my inspirations because she also uses fabric to make interesting shapes and sculptures.


Rwyf wedi archwilio’r term aml-genedliadol drwy bortreadaeth a thecstilau. Yn fy marn i mae’n bwysig cysylltu â phob cenhedlaeth o deuluoedd, yn benodol â’r oedrannus. Mae fy mhrosiect yn canolbwyntio ar fywyd fy mamgu.

Rwyf wedi sôn am yr hanesion y galla i eu cofio o’r amser roeddwn yn tyfu i fyny yng nghwmni fy mamgu. Mae ei straeon yn ddiddorol ac yn ddoniol, maen nhw wedi rhoi bywyd i’m prosiect. Mae pob un o’r teitlau a’r straeon wedi’u mynegi yn y doliau sydd hefyd yn cynrychioli benyweidd-dra. Mae benyweidd-dra yn rhan amlwg o’m prosiect; rwyf wedi bod yn archwilio erthyglau o gyfnod rhyfel sy’n dweud bod menywod wedi cael hyd i bethau yn lle colur fel petai’n rhan gynhenid ynom I fod am edrych yn hardd. Rwyf wedi canolbwyntio ar syniad y coesau â staen te arnyn nhw, gwisgoedd priodas a wnaed gan fy mamgu a straeon serch.

Bwriad y prosiect hwn yw llwyddo i roi ymdeimlad o gofio ac o hiraethu drwy esthetig chwareus y doliau. Cafodd y doliau eu gwneud o gynfas a phaent ac mae pob dol yn cario stori o fywyd fy mamgu. Mae’n hwyl gwneud fy ngwaith celf ac mae’n arbrofol iawn. Rwy’n mwynhau defnyddio cyfryngau amrywiol. Mae modd trin tecstilau a ffabrigau yn hawdd. Mae Dorethea Tanning yn un o’r bobl sy’n fy ysbrydoli gan ei bod hithau’n defnyddio ffabrig i wneud siapau a cherfluniau diddorol.

www.fesseyfiona.wixsite.com/website

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