weaving himself a future: George Morgan

Young artist George Morgan from Hawkhurst is used to people looking at his work and saying "I've never seen anything like that before." In fact it's so unusual he was invited to Hangzhou, China last year to take part in an international Creative Pattern competition and finished in the last eight despite fierce competition from all over the world.

To "weave" his intricate work he uses medium density fibreboard and then creates a 3-D effect with a veneer made out of hemlock wood which is first soaked to make it malleable, and then shaped and glued to the base before painting. To achieve these final patterns he first works it out on cardboard. When he is satisfied with the final outline, he then draws the shapes onto the fibreboard and achieves his layering effect with a laser cutting machine.

What influences his work? Well George, who is 23, says he has always been fascinated in building up layers . He has always enjoyed playing the old Tetris game creating shapes made up of four blocks, and another influence is Russian constructivism art, which is similar to early 1900's modernism. Certainly the Worshipful Company of Weavers were so intrigued and impressed by his work at a New Designer Fair in London's World Business Centre that they gave him a financial award and invited him to lunch.

His work is already gaining acclaim, one piece has been valued at £1,000 and another was sold for £500. At present George is taking a cabinet making course at Scotney Castle after leaving Central St. Martins University in London with a BA Honours Degree in textiles. His tutor was so impressed she told him she was certain he could build a business out of his work. His present course runs until next April and he hopes he can incorporate some of his work into the furniture for the final exhibition.

The Cranbrook Art Show committee were also so impressed by his work that they awarded him a special bursary entry into this years event in the town's Vestry Hall. The show runs from the 6th to the 8th of November, and George - who will be exhibiting six examples of his unusual and original work - is looking forward to viewers reactions.

John Bird

The Committee would like to thank Ingenue Magazine for publishing this feature.

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