Embroidery and stitch have a long-standing presence in feminist history. Sewing has traditionally been classed as ‘women’s work’, and is an example of the laborious and creative work that usually went unnoticed. I take pleasure in stitching narratives to create my artwork, combing elements of meaning and emotion to tell a story. Using paint on fabric as my starting point, I build up the image using free machine stitch and hand embroidery. The intensiveness of the stitch makes the fabric so taut it creates its own form, adding to the sculptural element of the work. Throughout my studies I have been looking at Greek mythology in relation to women. Although dominated by males, there was a strong cast of female roles, although many were troublemakers or temptresses and rarely had a positive impact. An exception to this was Artemis the huntress – daughter of Zeus and Leto. She was strong and well respected – also known as the goddess of wild animals, wilderness, and protector of young children. She is a great role model for our modern generation, and that is why I have chosen to reinterpret her encounter with Actaeon and the hounds into a strong and positive message for women.
Mae presenoldeb hir a sefydlog gan frodwaith a phwyth yn hanes menywod. Yn draddodiadol mae gwnïo wedi’i ystyried yn ‘waith menyw’ ac mae’n enghraifft o’r gwaith llafurus a chreadigol na fyddai sôn amdano fel arfer. Rwy’n mwynhau’n fawr bwytho naratifau i greu fy ngwaith celf, gan gyfuno elfennau ystyr ac emosiwn i adrodd stori. Gan ddefnyddio paent ar ffabrig yn fan cychwyn, byddaf yn adeiladu’r ddelwedd drwy bwytho ar beiriant a thrwy brodwaith llaw. Mae natur ddyfal y pwytho yn gwneud y ffabrig mor dynn fel y bydd yn creu ei ffurf ei hun, gan ychwanegu at elfen gerfluniol y gwaith. Ar hyd fy astudiaethau rwyf wedi bod yn edrych ar fytholeg Roegaidd mewn perthynas â menywod. Er mae’r dynion oedd yn tra-arglwyddiaethu, roedd rolau cryf gan rai menywod er bod llawer ohonyn nhw’n creu trafferth neu’n temtio ac ond yn anaml y byddai eu heffaith yn un bositif. Eithriad i hyn oedd Artemis yr helwraig – merch Zeus a Leto. Roedd hi’n gryf ac yn uchel ei pharch ac fe’i gelwid hefyd yn dduwies anifeiliaid gwyllt, diffeithleoedd ac amddiffynnydd plant ifanc. Mae hi’n enghraifft dda i’n cenhedlaeth fodern ei dynwared ac, felly, dyna pam y dewisais ail-ddehongli’r hanes pan gyfarfu ag Actaeon a’r helgwn a throi’r hanes hwnnw yn neges gryf a phositif ar gyfer menywod.
