The Art of Fibre

I began knitting Fire during the January evacuation. At first, it was just a way to stay calm – to silence the panic, to stop imagining whether our street was already in flames or still standing. Words felt hollow in the face of what was happening.

The fire leapt over our house. Somehow, miraculously, it survived. But no one is allowed back. The National Guard has sealed off the area – it’s now a war zone.

We had two and a half minutes to evacuate.

It took nearly an hour to drive just seven streets to reach the main road. Elderly neighbours crept down one narrow lane while sleek Porsches and Ferraris from the higher estates tore past on the shoulder, choking the road and blocking fire trucks and police. Broken palm fronds and branches littered the street, carrying sparks like messengers of destruction. Containers and debris slammed into my car.

The dress grew stitch by stitch, smoke still clinging to my lungs. It carries the memory of that hour – the fear, the fury, the fire. It is not just wearable art. It is survival woven in yarn.

• Highly Commended at the 3^rd Prof. S. Trzeszczkowski Competition
• Year: 2022
• Media: Embroidery, linen, wool, gold thread
• Dimensions: 60 × 60 × 50 cm