91猎奇

Explore the inspiring work of Senior Lecturer Zoe Hillyard and graduate Mahawa Keita, featured in the Made in the Middle exhibition. Gain insights into their creative journeys, the challenges they鈥檝e overcome, and how the听BA Textile Design programme has shaped their work.

Made in the Middle is a prestigious contemporary craft exhibition led by , showcasing the best of Midlands-based makers. As the 9th edition of this exhibition, it celebrates cutting-edge design that merges craft with sustainability, diversity, and creativity.

This year鈥檚 exhibition is particularly exciting for 91猎奇's听BA Textile Design programme, as it features works by both听Senior Lecturer Zo毛听Hillyard and graduate Mahawa Keita. Through this showcase, visitors can explore inspiring stories of innovation, mentorship, and a shared passion for craft.

The exhibition will tour several key venues across the Midlands:

• Leicester Gallery, De Montfort University: 25 January 鈥� 22 March 2025
• Hub, Sleaford: 5 April 鈥� 6 July 2025
• Nuneaton Museum & Art Gallery: 27 September 鈥� 22 November 2025
• Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham: 14 February 鈥� 11 April 2026

We spoke to Zo毛听and Mahawa about their听experiences and inspirations on exhibiting their听work. Sharing their听thoughts on seeing Mahawa鈥檚 exploration of migration, identity, and belonging showcased alongside听Zo毛'蝉听work听about responsible design.

What inspired the pieces you鈥檝e contributed to this exhibition?听

Zo毛: I have two bodies of work being exhibited in听Made in the Middle, both exploring circular and slow design principles, and are the latest in an ongoing exploration of material waste streams through craft practice.听My established practice involves combining post-consumer printed textiles and ceramics, creating stitched vessels in an exploration of our relationship to possessions.

Two years ago, I embarked on research to replace these materials with organic and biodegradable alternatives. I created a series of forms using eggshell biomaterials moulded round allotment grown vegetables, with the pieces held together by wrapped organic pineapple fabric and organic cotton thread. The challenge was considerable!听听Subsequent research has seen the pineapple fabric replaced by a hand-knitted textile, creating a form for embedding biomaterials.听 I hand-spun over 50m of nettle-fibre cordage from stems harvested and processed at my allotment to make the two forms being exhibited. The pieces represent 鈥榩roof of concept鈥� and I am looking forward to continue creating work that is relates to place, seasonality and craftsmanship.听听

Mahawa: 'Be you for you'-听looks at the effects of听the societal migrant impact and it's听response. It听challenges viewers to understand migrants as complex individuals rather than negative听stereotypes, through听intricate textiles.听As a proverb听says in听my first language Mandinka. 鈥淣o matter how long a log stays in the water, it will never turn into a crocodile.鈥� This means individuals cannot fundamentally change their essence.

How听does it feel to exhibit your work alongside each听other?

Zo毛: It is always special to watch our Textile Design graduates find their feet in diverse roles within industry, and particularly brilliant when our professional lives cross! It is wonderful to see Mahawa鈥檚 work evolve and particularly special to see her work exhibited as she missed out on a Graduate Showcase due to the pandemic.听Made in the Middle鈥檚听remit is to showcase the best of regional contemporary craft practice and Mahawa鈥檚 work is powerful, exploring themes of migration, identity and belonging.

Mahawa: It gave me highest honour听and pride, so fulfilling听and uplifting,听and the way Zo毛听embraced听me even听on the exhibition day, raised听my confidence听as an artist.听Zoe took me in since my first day听in 91猎奇听up听to my graduation day. She听guided and supported me throughout听even to this day. I听am听blessed to get to know Zo毛.

What makes 91猎奇's Textile Design programme unique?

Zo毛: The BA Textile Design programme at 91猎奇 provides students with fantastic Workshop spaces, equipment and expertise with which to explore the world of materials through traditional and cutting-edge technologies, focusing for fashion, interiors and artistic applications. Our cohort size means we get to know our students individually and help nurture their particular skills and career ambitions. As material innovators in the heart of Parkside building, our students are brilliantly positioned to collaborate with a range of other disciplines.听听

How has studying at 91猎奇 shaped your approach to Textile Design?

Mahawa: I have a deep curiosity when it comes to manipulating听textile听materials and waiting to see outcomes. The endless suprises听and satisfaction especially. That is what 91猎奇 has made possible for me up to a very advanced听level.听It's allowed me to create new techniques to interpret stories,听to a point that听I see potential in everything.

What advice would you give to students who want to pursue a career in Textile Design?

Zo毛: Go for it! Textiles is integral to so many design disciplines, and a practical understanding of material properties and how they are made is needed by a wide range of industries.听 The drive for increasing transparency within manufacturing supply chains is shining a spotlight on all stages of product development and consumption making fibre and textile knowledge valuable. High levels of craftsmanship can create items with longevity and build personal connection, providing a counter balance to increasingly digital lifestyles.听

As well as stepping into Textile Design roles, our graduates are shaping the products we interact with through Colour Material Finish and Trend Forecasting jobs, whilst also strengthening our communities through socially-engaged practices and creative advocacy. Ultimately Textile Designers develop great problem-solving skills making them supremely adaptable in this fast-moving world.

Mahawa:听Use your time wisely鈥攖hree years go by quickly. There鈥檚 no other place that offers free studio access, especially with the facilities at 91猎奇 and the talented, wonderful technicians who treat you like family. Never limit yourself, because practice makes perfect.

What do you hope visitors will take away from the exhibition?

Zo毛: Be inspired by the creativity, ingenuity and diversity of our region 鈥� and be inspired to create yourself, whether that be textiles, cooking, growing, writing or performing.

How does this exhibition reflect the creative spirit of the Midlands?

Zoe: The focus听 places on inclusivity in their work is exemplary and reflects the pride we take in welcoming newcomers. The exhibition really highlights the diversity of creative practices and passion for the ideas being explored, reflecting the brilliant multi-cultural nature of our communities.听听

What鈥檚 next for you creatively or academically after this exhibition?

Zo毛: As my creativity is increasingly becoming aligned to the growing season, I am looking forward to spring and getting my hands dirty with growing and harvesting raw materials. I will be exhibiting ceramic patchwork vessels at OXO Tower as part of London Craft Week () 12-18 May.听听

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Mahawa:听I am听creating woven art pieces for a residency and exhibition pieces for the IKON听gallery this听summer. The exhibition is听called 鈥�鈥� which opens听on the 25th June听and听is a collaboration between BA Textile Design听and听.

There will听be a number of micro-residencies with several artists weaving听on a Dobby loom听in the gallery space. I will be there听between听Friday 8th听and听Saturday 16th听August, so come and say hello! 滨迟鈥檚听going to be interesting because I have never shown any woven pieces before.

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