Ros Lewis – United Kingdom

Balance of Power – Freedom and Oppression

Description

My hat “BALANCE OF POWER – FREEDOM AND OPPRESSION” brings together the forces of light and darkness. Power can be used to bring freedoms or abused to oppress.

The lower part of the headpiece obscures the face, restricting ones ability to express freely. The materials used are dark, foreboding and harsh – black with hard, wired edges and metal spikes. In contrast the top half is light, airy and gilded in gold, using free form techniques giving the materials their own freedoms and the very top being not only free to move around at will but tinged with gold.

Societies worldwide balance on the edge of these two opposing forces, constantly vying for control, with the successful countries achieving an equilibrium between order and anarchy.

Materials

• Sinamay
• Feathers
• Gold leaf
• Studs
• Beads
• Veiling
• Wire
• Sewing thread

Techniques

• Free form sculpting
• Hand rolling
• Applying gold leaf
• Wiring
• Cutting
• Sewing by hand
• Machine sewing