Artist’s Interpretation of Wall Hanging in the Ada Allingham Room

Artist: Daiva Stasiukynaite

This wall hanging is horizontal, divided into sections and colours selected to represent certain meanings that I have attempted to deliver. The viewer might see this differently, however, it is for everyone to find their own interpretation of what this means, to them.

The main purpose of the hanging is to represent and signify those Sisters who took their first vows in this very room. Horizontal lines usually have a calming and resting effect on the viewer. Hopefully, this will help the viewers to compose themselves for a moment before they continue on their everyday life.

The colour pallet is quite simple and not too varied, again with the purpose of achieving memorial significance. I turned to the colours which, in my understanding, have symbolic meaning in church art. Moreover, we, as humans, usually see and associate colours instinctively.

The lower part of this work represents the ground/basis of everyday life with its responsibilities and sacrifices that we all have, or choose, to do. Dark charcoal and light grey with white stripes represent complexity and purity which exists at the same time.

The second part from the bottom aim to remember those Sisters who took their vows in this room. Their names are embroidered in white on light grey plain linen with a simple line of red and gold above the names: this signifies the innocence of the soul and the purity and holiness of life in the presence of God.

The other sections above are the circles of lily and lace which represent each Sister and therefore are placed above each individual name. this has a meaningful and ornamental impact and it stands out in the overall work as a very important part.

The section of blue is the largest here and works as a background for the gold lace and lily. Above the circles, however, the blue colour represents the sky and heavenly love, therefore it is significantly large. Horizontal lines of different shades of blue with some slight gold ‘suggestions’ are here to achieve that representation.

Finally, come clean lines of gold and red to represent joy, celebration and the presence of God. I decided to place some lace print between gold and red, as it seems to work well with the room and its features.

11 June 2016